History is not boring, says writer

History is not boring, says prominent East New Britain writer, Gideon Kakabin.

“How can something be boring when it really is a study of what we have done in the past?” added Kakabin, who is also the creator of the famous Facebook group, NGI Historical Society and Destinations in Rabaul.

He was speaking last month to history students of seven high and secondary schools in East New Britain during an open lecture with professional historian, Professor Hermann Hiery of the University of Beirut.

The presentation of the two open lectures was an initiative by Kakabin.

“I have been trying to run a history seminar for a while,” Kakabin told Loop PNG.

Upon hearing about the coming of Professor Hiery to Rabaul, Kakabin decided to liaise with him to present a history seminar. Professor Hiery agreed to the proposal and they successfully staged the first two open lectures.

John. H. Margretts, the man responsible for translating most of the Kuanua hymns found in the buk na kakailai, was the main focus of Kakabin’s presentation while Professor Hiery, who was a former lecturer at the Divine Word University, presented on the history of German New Guinea.

Judging by the enthusiasm shown by the more than 200 students when asking questions towards the end of the presentation, the event was perceived, by organisers, to be a success.

Due to the splendid response, Kakabin is now thinking of staging the next history seminar in November when Professor Hiery comes back.

“Mr Kakabin should be paid by high schools in the province to teach an hour of history each week,” suggested a student of Malabunga Secondary School.

Kakabin, who hails from the Vunaulul village in the Gazelle District, also told Loop PNG about his passion of informing everyone about the richness of history. He believes that much can be learnt from what happened in the past to improve the issues we have today.

“My purpose in life is to make people aware of the rich history that we have,” he said.

Author: 
Fiona Silo