[3][5] The name 'Ngalum' refers to the community group that resides between the slopes of Puncak Mandala and Telefomin District in Papua New Guinea.

[10] Ngalum's indigenous belief centers on the creation of humans by Aplim Apom, which carries philosophical and ideological values as the foundation of their way of life.

They believe in the presence of a creator (Atangki), protectors (Onkor and Kakalakonaki), and malevolent spirits (Kaseng).

[12] There are no official records of the religion followed by all members of the tribe, but in Oksibil, where the Ngalum is majority, 80% of the population is Catholic.

The walls of the house are made from branches, tree limbs, and pine wood planks arranged in a circular pattern.

The doors are built about half a meter above the floor, so the inhabitants inside cannot be seen from the outside, and a ladder is provided for access.

The roof slopes to the sides, not in a conical shape, and is supported by a frame and stakes surrounding the walls of the house.

Today, this village layout is being abandoned, and houses are now built in a row, following the pattern of the roads.

The crops they commonly cultivate include taro, sweet potatoes, yam, palmgrass, yamen leaves, and aibika.

Later, they grew red beans, soybeans, carrots, cabbage, and tomatoes after the missionaries introduced those plants.

[18] In the past, trade activities in the mountainous areas of Papua were difficult to carry out due to limited access.

[12] The commodities traded with the populations around the Papua New Guinea border as well as those near the upper reaches of the Digul River include pigs (kang), arrows (ara), bows (ebon), stone axes (papie), dog teeth (anoniji), baskets (noken), bird-of-paradise feathers (kulep), and garden produce.

[12] The economic system and the modern currency were introduced to the Ngalum people after the Catholic mission entered their territories in 1956.

In the past, items that could be accepted as dowry were dog teeth (anon ningil), stone axes (takol papi), pigs (kang), baskets (noken), and shell money (siwol wan).

Materials that are utilized for medicine are yamen leaves, West Indian wood nettle, and red fruits.

These medicines have various functions, such as aiding the birth process, treating fever, alleviating discomfort, and also enhancing body immunity and fertility.

[23] In the past, Ngalum people disposed of a body by wrapping markon leaves, then covering it with woven tree bark, and tying it with rattan cords.