The National Mask Festival is a world renowned event that was initially an initiative of the National Cultural Commission in Port Moresby.
A staff of the Tourism Authority in East New Britain Province (ENBP), Emma Robinson, told Loop PNG: “When it all started, the National Cultural Commission was responsible for funding the event.”
As the name implies, the event aims to bring all the different masks of the different provinces of Papua New Guinea together in one place.
After a trial period, East New Britain Province was chosen as an ideal host province, as the National Mask Festival coincided with the Tolai Warwagira Festival, coupled with the fact that this was especially convenient for tourists who often have to pay to travel into the country to witness the occasion.
Unfortunately, this year, due to lack of funding by the National Cultural Commission, there was only a showcase of masks from East New Britain alone. This also resulted in the cancellation of the Tolai Warwagira Festival, a latter event.
“The ENB Provincial Government then had to look around for money to cater for the event,” said the ENB director of tourism.
For that reason, the ENB Provincial Governor challenged Kokopo business houses to assist in staging the National Mask and Tolai Warwagira Festival next year.
“You’ve made enough money from the people of East New Britain and now you must give back something to the people by supporting such activities,” ENB Governor Ereman Tobaining Jnr said in his keynote address yesterday.