Kalsa versus kastam in Manus, Papua New Guinea: the emergence of a new regime of historicity?

This article examines the emergence of the term kalsa in Manus Province, Papua New Guinea, as an alternative understanding of cultural heritage in contrast to the older term kastam, and explores whether this shift signals a significant change in people’s orientation in historical time. Drawing on François Hartog’s concept of regime of historicity, the article contrasts kastam, which valorizes the past through traditional exchange practices and kinship obligations, with kalsa, which reimagines cultural heritage as a platform for innovation, identity, and economic opportunity, especially through tourism and performance. Through two ethnographic case studies, a cultural festival on Baluan Island and the personal journey of an urban Manus woman, the paper illustrates how individuals navigate tensions between the entangled temporalities of tradition and modernity. The analysis suggests that kalsa embodies a forward-looking temporal orientation, reflecting changing subjectivities and aspirations. Ultimately, this evolving cultural lexicon may indicate a broader transformation in how Manus people conceptualize time, tradition, and agency within contemporary social and economic contexts.