Women Wearing Net Bags (Bilum)
When I first saw these bags I automatically thought wow they
are beautiful, the rich colors and patterns on these bags in some ways are
still reflected in handbags today. Also, the symbolism of the bags (being
associated with beauty and status) also reminds me a lot of today, seeing as
brand names and the look of the bag can also show a person’s status as well.
The next thought that popped into my mind is wait, why are the bags being
carried by these women’s heads. Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to put
these bags over their shoulders as a kind of satchel? It just makes more sense
to me, all of the weight of what there carrying rather it be a child, food, or
the bones of the deceased husbands must be very painful to the necks and backs.
But seeing as how this isn’t my culture it would seem strange to me. I truly
wonder if the feel and look of these net bags have changed sense the
traditional items used to make these bags (bark of the ficus plant) have been
modified to be more modern?
