A Pi

name given to a set of mysterious stones in Bougainville, first written about by English anthropologist Beatrice Blackwood

betel nut

seed of the Areca palm, chewed as a stimulant throughout Papua New Guinea, where it is known as buai

bikman (big man)

term used in Papua New Guinea to describe a leader (generally, although not always, a man) whose influence is associated with the ability to acquire and distribute resources to those he leads

blackskins

term used by people from other parts of Papua New Guinea to describe Bougainvilleans

bonito

fish belonging to the tuna family

brukim bus

‘to cut one’s way through thick bush’, a metaphor for the business of government or administration

Buka Town

urban and administrative hub of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, located on Buka Island (Buka), just off the main island of Bougainville

cicastration

an ornate process of body tattooing by which marks were made on the skin with flints of glass and coral

cocovore

person who eats only coconuts

the Crisis

violent conflict in Bougainville, 1988–97. Part ethno-nationalist in nature, it pitted Bougainvilleans against the Papua New Guinea army and police, while other elements were more akin to an intra-Bougainvillean civil conflict. A 2001 Peace Agreement formally ended the Crisis

go pinis

leaving, to leave

IKEA

global furniture retail company selling affordable home and office furniture

Japanese Zero

plane used by the Japanese in the Second World War

kai bar

place where one can buy prepared food (Papua New Guinea)

luluai

village chief, tribal chief (appointed by a colonial administration)

MSG

monosodium glutamate, a flavour enhancer added to some restaurant foods

pasim maus

‘shut mouth’ (keeping quiet, not divulging information)

redskins

term used by Bougainvilleans to describe people from other parts of Papua New Guinea

sigil

pictorial symbol believed to hold magical power

singsing

group singing, often associated with ceremonial dancing and feasting

Tok Pisin

Papua New Guinean Pidgin, the lingua franca of Papua New Guinea

upe

headdress worn by teenage boys in certain parts of Bougainville during a period of initiation

urar

spirits of the dead

Wedgewood

traditional English producer of fine china and earthenware popular in Australia in the 20th century