Nogwi was the final part of the ceremonies held during yam harvest observances in which only the most senior and powerful men of the community could participate. In 1973, Douglas Newton photographed the carved and painted figures displayed during these rituals. Participation in the nogwi ritual was attained through personal achievements, the essential one being homicide the ultimate proof of masculinity. “Only nogwi members were qualified to plant yams and to know the magic that made them grow. At the same time it is possible that the nogwi spirits were in some way connected with the mythical origins of sago.” (Newton: July 18, 1997)
