The “mud men” Asaro occupy the lands of Papua New Guinea, and they have a peculiar tradition. The tribe resembles extraterrestrial beings more than terrestrial ones.
The men of that tribe have been coated with white clay, wearing alien-faced white masks on their heads and bamboo claws on their fingers for roughly 100 years. They exclusively performed ceremonies and danced in those unusual clothes inside their tribe because they had never left the highlands of Papua New Guinea. In 2016, four Asaro mud men were allowed to spend a week as “artists” at the Australian Museum, performing for tourists and earning money.
Nobody knows where such a custom originated; however, there are numerous theories. Because mud men have a hard time remembering their age, it’s impossible to say when such practice began.
According to one idea, the Asaro tribe was hiding from their foes from another tribe beside a white clay riverbank some time ago. The Asaro was covered in clay and dirt, and their look alarmed the opponents, as only the ghost may be white, according to tribal customs. However, the Asaro people’s traditions remain enigmatic as to why this custom became so significant or how they acquired bamboo claws on their fingers.
According to another account, a weird attire with an ugly mask and clay over his body was worn by a man during the wedding of one Asaro. They all fled because they thought he was a ghost.
As a result, they devised a plan to terrify their foes by donning bizarre clothes.
Every year, members of this bizarre tribe put on a fantastic display in Goroka, Papua New Guinea, where they gladly demonstrate authentic masks to tourists. Most of the shows have horrific features such as large fangs, oversized ears, grin-like smiles, tusks, and horns.
Furthermore, the white color is associated with grief in the Asaro mud men’s culture, enhancing the likeness of the spirits of death.
Jim, an Asaro who does not know his age, refers to himself as the tribe’s oldest man. He appears to be in his 50s based on his appearance. He stated the first time he donned a clay mask was at the Goroka Show in 1976, and it was terrifying. On the other hand, his father assured him that it was an essential part of their culture and that he should not be afraid of it.
Historians and ethnographers are persuaded that the “mud man” tradition did not emerge until the 1950s, and they have no idea why.
According to ancient extraterrestrial theories, the Asaro people’s tale stems from a confrontation with something far more terrifying than a white ghost. They thought the tribe had encountered aliens with enormous heads and long fingers because they had long, sharp claws on their hands and grinning faces on their masks (as abduction victims often describe them).
Meanwhile, the Asaro mud men tribe is relatively harmless despite their scary looks. The Korowai, who live in trees in northeastern West Papua, has garnered notoriety as cannibals. For a stranger, meeting with representatives of this tribe can be disastrous.
