Kiki: ten thousand years in a lifetime;: A New Guinea autobiography

by Albert Maori Kiki

The decorative dustjacket adds much to this vintage hardcover. The jacket shows wear along the edges from shelving. Book is like new inside, free of markings, bright and clean. NEVER a library book, NOT priceclipped, Not a worthless book of the month club edition. /lh

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1968, this book derives from a set of tape recordings in which Albert Maori Kiki told his life story to the writer Ulli Beier. Kiki had been born in 1931 and had lived the earlier part of his life in very traditional settings. By the late 1950s he had become a political activist and campaigner for the independence of PNG. I understand that he went on to become deputy Prime Minister after PNG gained independence in 1975, but at the time this book was published that lay in the future. I have no idea whether he was good or bad as a government minister.

The early chapters in this book were definitely the ones I found most interesting. Kiki had an unusual background in that his parents were from different parts of PNG. The circumstances behind this are explained in the book. His father was from a village called Orokolo on the south coast, whilst his mother was part of a semi-nomadic tribe who lived inland along the Purari River. Kiki grew up living in both communities over different periods. The inland tribe in particular lived in a very traditional way, for example being engaged in more or less continuous warfare against neighbouring tribes. The book contains a wealth of information on the culture of PNG at the time. I suppose the value of accounts like this is that they come from someone within the society, rather than the observations of a western anthropologist (although I read plenty of those types of account as well).

Gradually the book moves on to describe Kiki’s political activism. It was initially motivated by systemic discrimination against Papuans by the Australian administration in PNG, some of which was pretty outrageous. Over time it developed into campaigning for independence. I felt that his account contained a fair amount of self-justification. Then again he was a politician, so it would be naïve to have expected anything else. Personally I was more interested in the cultural aspects of society in PNG, as opposed to the country’s political history.

Four stars for the first part of the book and three for the second part. The rating has been rounded up.

[Sol Canny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cool book transcribed, from the oral history of a man that truly lived a transition after initial contact with the colonizers. This opens up another world truly! I have learned many things about life Papua New Guinea then and now while reading this pages and by further investigating many topics. Thinking of discussion about the colonization of my own people from college, I can tell that Kiki was quite a visionary! Reading this book in 1968 must have been mind blowing! Haure!

[Steve Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was largely transcribed from tape. It is the story of how a boy who began in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and grew to become one of its prominent leaders before the nation gained independence from Australia. Through the story I gained a better understanding of his beliefs and racism.

[Kathrynia Songoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beutifully written about the life of a native during colonial time in PNG. Inspiring to read about the founding fathers of the country sharing the same vision for independence and freedom in their land. Highly recommend

[Yank Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten thousand years in a life time

[Andy Mathew]

I like it