Evelyn Kunda’s fight against sorcery violence

In villages not unlike Gere Biksi in Simbu Province, where indigenous human rights defender Evelyn Kunda grew up, women and girls live with restriction and in fear, as sorcery accusation-related violence continues to increase throughout the Papua New Guinea Highlands.

With the highest mountain in PNG, Mt William looming in the background, Evelyn was raised by her father from a young age after her mother’s death.

Although she did well at school, Evelyn says her father did not have money to send her to Teacher’s College to study.

“At that time people in my village did not think it was possible for a woman to get higher education," she says.

Currently in Aotearoa New Zealand for the Sanap Wantaim – Stand Together exhibit and the premiere of her feature film, MARIMARI at the New Zealand International Film Festival in August, Evelyn explains how PNG is now one of the most dangerous places in the world to be female.

“Women are still treated like possessions, sold for bride price, and domestic violence is common.

“Sorcery accusation-related violence is a new and growing problem in many parts of the Highlands, and in recent decades sorcery accusations, attacks, and killings have spread like wildfire through many communities.”

People accused of sanguma (witchcraft and sorcery) are forced to leave their villages and disowned by their families – that is if they survive, adds Evelyn.

After seeing firsthand the impact of sorcery violence, Evelyn Kunda became a human rights defender and does everything in her power to support, house, and rehabilitate the often traumatised survivors she takes under her wing.

Her work is dangerous, unfunded, and desperately needed.

As fate would have it, in 2018 Evelyn met creative Dr Paul Wolffram at the Catholic mission station in Goroka town, signalling the start of a beautiful working relationship, and friendship.

“We began to work together as he documented my work as a human rights defender,” Evelyn says.

Over the next seven years, Paul shadowed Evelyn, simultaneously taking photographs, and filming the documentary MARIMARI.

Shot in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Kundiawa, Simbu Province, and Enga Province, the photos and documentary feature human rights defenders and sorcery accusation survivors as they try to rebuild their lives.

Recently the duo celebrated the opening of an exhibition of the photographs, Sanap Wantaim – Stand together against sorcery violence, now showing at Porirua’s Pātaka Museum.

Also, on show are selected bilums (traditional string bags), woven by sorcery violence survivors.

Human rights defender Evelyn Kunda and filmmaker Dr Paul Wolffram at the opening of the Sanap Wantaim – Stand Together exhibition, in Porirua. Photo/Supplied

Meanwhile, Paul and Evelyn are busy promoting MARIMARI to raise funds for a safe house in Goroka, where Evelyn runs a counselling service.

Paul says it has been a big year for the two friends, fuelled by a deep sense of justice, as these projects have come to fruition.

“It seems incredible that in 2024, our Pacific brothers and sisters are being attacked as witches and sorcerers,” he adds.

“The fact these issues have only emerged in recent years as a response to rapid social change is also hard to comprehend.

“I hope those who view the exhibition will help to support people like Evelyn Kunda who are developing indigenous solutions to these problems.

“Our connections to Pacific peoples here in Aotearoa run deep, and New Zealanders are passionate about justice and helping developing communities to find their own solutions to social injustice.”

While acknowledging the work they have achieved so far, there is still so much more to be done, Paul says.

“I have just returned from five weeks in the Highlands where he worked with youth groups to shoot a collection of short videos about anti-sorcery violence in the local language.

“These videos were distributed on social media two weeks ago and we have had almost 300,000 views.

“Social media in PNG is often used to share videos and images of sorcery attacks, inciting further violence,” he explains.

“With youth groups in Goroka, we produced short, humorous videos aimed at encouraging young people to think about the real motivations behind sorcery attacks.”

Visit the Pātaka website for more information about Sanap Wantaim – Stand Together, and for more information and to donate, visit the MARIMARI Film website.