In the Land of a Thousand Tribes: An Anthropologist’s Travels in Papua New Guinea

In a land of countless tribes, the stories of Papua New Guinea are as diverse as its people.

Papua New Guinea, a vibrant cultural and natural gem in the heart of Oceania, is home to over 800 unique languages and a rich tribal heritage that remains largely untouched by Western influence. It is into this tropical haven of society that anthropologist Raz Cherbelis takes readers in his intriguing memoir, drawing on more than three decades of exploration and research across the country’s most remote regions.

With vivid authenticity, Cherbelis offers a rare glimpse into the untouched magic of Papua New Guinea: encounters with tribes of crocodile men, flirting in local Pidgin, dangerous shark-calling rituals, enchanting fire-dancing ceremonies, and more. He develops close ties with local tribes, where technological advancements are so recent that the wheel was introduced to many just a century ago.

With poignant reflections on life, death, family, culture, religion, and more, In the Land of a Thousand Tribes is a soul-stirring journey into one of the world’s last great frontiers.