The Abelam people of northeast New Guinea cultivate two distinct categories of yams—a small variety used as ordinary food and long yams, massive tubers that can be as much as twelve feet long. The competitive growth and exchange of long yams is one of the major focus of ritual life among the Abelam. In particular, a man’s social status is determined largely by his success in growing long yams. The finest long yams are lavishly adorned in the presentation ceremony, effectively transforming them into human images. The “heads” of the enormous tubers are decorated with specially made yam mask such as the one pictured below, which are made exclusively for yams, never for humans. This particular mask has an endearing broad smile which makes it uniquely charming to both tuber and man.