Independence Celebrations Oro style

This post is dedicated to Shannon and Melvin who worked so hard to ensure that the Ta'tao'on dance was performed well by their peers from the various parts of Oro province at the Kokofa Cultural event last Friday at Gordons Secondary school in Port Moresby. 

Shannon - all fitted out and ready with his miniature Kundu drum







Shannon and Melvin

The boys of the Oro dance group.

 The girls of the Oro dance group

 Students aged between 16 & 19 years participated in the traditional dance performances and the parents were on hand to dress and decorate them.

 

...and the little ones did not shy away from the action..

This is the dance formation before the Oro provincial group went out first. They were supposed to perform 4th out of about 25 groups but they couldn't wait. 

Happy Independence celebrations !!

We are celebrating our 35th Independence anniversary this week (16th September) and schools in Port Moresby are bracing themselves for various activities including traditional dance performances.

If you aren't doing anything, go to Korobosea International School on Wednesday or the Gordon Secondary school on Friday. There will be traditional dances from all 20 provinces.

You can expect colour, vibrancy and energy from our young ones.

Small Business Development Corporation supports Goroka Bilum Festival

The Goroka Bilum Festival is on again next month and who better to provide financial support then the Small Business Development Corporation. The SBDC manager Mr Nathan Timo presented K10,000.00 to the Festival organisers last week.

 Mr Timo said;"We are happy to support the Festival through our newly created women-in-business desk at the SBDC."

He said SBDC had supported the Goroka Bilum Festival since its inception in 2006 and would continue to provide support to take the promotion of bilum to the next level.

Ms Florence Jaukae (famous for her bilum dresses & product - Jaukae Bilum Wear) received the cheque on behalf of the Festival organisers and thanked the SBDC for its continued support. She said the SBDC was the only government agency helping the bilum weavers to promote their products.

The Festival was initiated to assist the local women to showcase their bilum wear and to generate income. The organisers are expecting a bigger turnout this year at the Festival. 

Festival dates are the same as the Goroka Show - Sept 17, 18 & 19.

MILNE BAY MAGIC

Above- Multi-coloured Sailau ready for sailing         Below - Rabaraba Dancers                      

Milne Bay province is well-known for many reasons. Situated at the southern-most tip of Papua New Guinea, its breathtaking seascape dotted with emerald islands makes it a natural magnet for marine sports lovers such as divers, fishermen and sailors.

The people are seasoned seafarers who traded in the traditional Kula expeditions, travelling miles in magnificent sailing canoes to barter for food items, clay pots and other necessities. With every gesture and act of friendship was born a link in the Kula ring. Shell money known as “bagi” and “mwali” were the legal tender in those days. A “bagi” or “mwali was used to even buy land or a bride. The shell money continues to be used, albeit rarely, for certain exchanges particularly of cultural significance.

To commemorate the Kula voyages and to keep their customs alive, the Milne Bay Canoe Festival was born seven years ago. And what better place to stage this annual festival than on the northern shore of Milne Bay in Alotau, the provincial capital! From November 6 to 8 last year (2009), the township’s population of about 12,000 was boosted by people who flocked to the sleepy little town to witness and participate in an event that is gaining popularity every year.