Tribes are known for their bizarre and unconventional customs, ranging from near-injury markings on the body to the practice of cannibalism. A tribe belonging to Papua New Guinea, Oceania, is believed to engage in cannibalism, but as part of a bizarre ritual.
As per the reports of the Daily Star website, this tribe uses cannibalism as a post-death ritual, where they eat the deceased’s entire body, except one part, just because it is too bitter. Known as the Fore people, they are locals of the Okapa District in Papua New Guinea.
According to the information, until 1960, they used to eat their relatives after death. Unsurprisingly, it was not something out of the norm. They believed that instead of getting “eaten by worms” it is better to be consumed by your close ones. It was considered a “big honour.” Reportedly, if you did not want to get eaten, there was a clause that could avail that option for you. Most of the members of the Fore preferred being eaten by their loved ones after death.
In the 1950s, a neurological disease called kuru was discovered. It was anthropologist Shirley Lindenbaum who made the connection between the epidemic of the disease and the Fore tribe’s cannibalism ritual.
Talking to the Daily Star, Shirley revealed, “We asked them, what did you do with the bodies? And then we knew.” She added, “They replied, we ate them! So, then we worked out that was what made them ill.”
Kuru is an incurable neurological condition, that can also be fatal. It causes tremors and leads to the shutdown of the whole nervous system. It is believed to be passed on by consuming the brain of an infected person. Shirley Lindenbaum, further revealed to the media portal, that the Fore ate “the entire body and all body parts…except one.” According to her, that part was too bitter to consume. She stated, “All body parts were eaten, except the gallbladder, which was considered too bitter.” She further revealed that it was only the women of the tribe who engaged in this practice out of empathy.
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