One day, a boy becomes an adult. Not because it is his birthday, and not simply because he has reached a certain age. Only after passing through a special ceremony that welcomes him into the community, he is recognized as an adult.

Ceremonies like this can be found all over the world. In many ways, they are about both death and rebirth. The child you once were comes to an end, and a new personal identity begins.

Along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, one spirit appears during this ceremony. It is called Awan.

The figure before you stands more than two meters tall. Although it is called a mask, it is much more than something worn on the face. It covers the entire body, transforming the wearer into a spirit.

It is made from wood, woven rattan, feathers, and plants.
At the top is the face of a male spirit. Below it is the face of a female spirit from the world beneath the water. Two different worlds come together in a single body.

The word awan does not simply mean "mask." It also means "an old person."

Perhaps the people of this region believed that the older someone became, the closer they came to their ancestors.

An elder was not simply someone who had lived a long life, but someone who carried the memories of those who came before and stood closest to the spirit world.

When someone wears the Awan, they do more than put on a mask. They take on the presence of a spirit and the strength of their ancestors.

During the ceremony, Awan appears. It dances, frightens, and teaches young boys how they should live. Sometimes it also scolds women and children, warning them against bad behaviors.

It may remind you of the Namahage from northern Japan.

Akita and Papua New Guinea are separated by thousands of kilometers. Their languages, cultures, and histories are completely different. So why do their traditions feel so similar?

Perhaps because people everywhere share something in common. We fear what we cannot see. We imagine beings greater than ourselves. And through that fear, we learn how to live.

Belief in spirits is not uncommon. It is one of the oldest ways human beings have expressed their respect for the unseen.