Imunu

Imunu is the name that Papuan peoples traditionally gave to a power that pervades things, including ritual objects. The Papuans are a Melanesian people of at least 240 groups, each with its own language, living mainly on sago, hunting, fishing and small gardens.

In masked ceremonies imunu takes visible form, and the masks mostly show humans or ancestors rather than plants or animals. Ancestors matter in this belief but are not necessarily revered, and placating their spirits is a recurring theme. Fear of sorcery and witchcraft was widespread. Before hunting or war, spirits were called on to advise and protect the men, and gope boards were thought to hold the spirits of powerful warriors or to guard the village.