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Giny-giny (Catfish)

Peter Gambong is painting the Giny-giny (Catfish) story from his Gupapuyngu ancestry. The Giny-giny is a particularly significant animal to Peter, and the Giny-giny song line is one of two song lines which Peter uses in ceremony. Peter would perform the Giny-giny song line at a Gupapuyngu funeral to allow the dead person’s spirit to return to their homeland. Peter would also perform the song line at a Mandayala (coming of age ceremony) for a Gupapuyngu boy. The Giny-giny is not scared of any other animal, because of the barbs on it’s face. During war time, Peter’s tribe mimic the Giny-giny’s barbed heads by holding their spears out as they approach their enemies.