Celebrating their ethnicity

Port Moresby saw more cultural celebrations yesterday, with the end of the month September.

East Sepik Provincial Day was held at the Murray Barracks, recording the biggest crowd of the day.

The venue was packed and many more still making their way in by midday.

The public even joined in on adorning a few traditional attire and body paints and danced along with traditional singsing groups who took the arena.

The East Sepik flag flew high as pride settled in. A few dance groups, such as the Avisat group from the Sepik River, took a baby crocodile onto the arena. The crocodile is closely associated with people from that area and is seen as a symbol of strength.

A few local bands from the area joined in with entertainment as well.

On the other hand, it was a different story at the Sir John Guise stadium for the Manus Provincial Day.

It was a more calm and family oriented celebration as people sat around the arena to see the variety of dances being performed.

Manus proved that there is not only one type of dance from the region.

With the garamut, they jumped and sang.

Also present was a small group from the Japanese Embassy, including the Japanese Ambassador H.E. Satoshi Nakajima.

An item was performed by the Kurti-Andra group, specifically for Nakajima.

And as the sun set, the Motu-Koitabu people ended the Hiri Moale Festival at the Paga Hill ring road with the crowning of the 2017 Miss Hiri Queen.

An emotional event as Hebou Hedea Dikana Nou received the crown, taking on the title, her mother once had as the third Hiri Queen.

Meanwhile, Northern Province also celebrated their culture at the Constitutional Park at Waigani, Port Moresby.

Sir Michael Somare, who attended the East Sepik Provincial Day, said there was nothing wrong with celebrating individual provincial days.

He said it’s a celebration of their ethnicity.

Author: 
Gloria Bauai