Tuesday, March 13, 2007

How "Papua" originated in western New Guinea

From Letters Page of The National (Port Moresby)

"... the name Papua originally derived from “Pua-pua” in Eastern Malay dialect which means frizzy hair referring to inhabitants of the Western part of New Guinea mainland. This is attributed to the Portuguese explorer who then pronounced it as Papua."

Noah Omaleh Kaiyo,
Vanimo, West Sepik province
Papua New Guinea

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