PNG Hut attracts more at 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam

​Papua New Guinea’s presence and participation at the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam, USA like other Pacific Island countries and territories is being felt throughout Guam.

PNG is really going traditional and is among a handful of Pacific nations whose traditional culture is pure and traditional.

As far as PNG’s performances at the festival venues is concerned the PNG’s participants, about 56 delegates arrived last Wednesday in Guam.

The trip to Guam via Hong Kong, Manila then to Guam was long and tiring but PNG delegates endured it because they were determined to let the whole Pacific region know that PNG has something unique to give to the rest of the Pacific.

The delegates settled in well and are now in full swing with their breathtaking performances  at various festival venues.

The Hafa Adai spirit of Guam is so welcoming that PNG delegates including the performers, support staff and officials forgot all about what they had left back in PNG.

The performances from the East Sepik group with the “Young Girls’” initiation ceremony and the Bougainvilleans with their stunning bamboo band and dances got the crowds going.

Where ever they  have performed there are always shouts demanding for more.

The PNG hut is always full of people from all over the Pacific wanting to know more about PNG and the products that are on display.

The hut is always filled with bilums of all kind, colours, patterns, cane baskets and other cultural items including pigs’ tusks necklaces and carvings.

The colours of the PNG’s flag are always eye catching  and has brought may people to visit what’s on display inside the PNG hut.

There are many things in Guam that PNG delegates need to adapt to and are slowly adapting to the USA system.

The first week of the festival was like adjusting to the US system in Guam and as of yesterday (Monday) people started to cooperate with the system.

All in all PNG is doing fine in terms of participation at the festival including performances, displays, workshops and seminars.

PNG is well represented at the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam and we are sure the country will do the same come the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawaii, 2020.

 

By Bola Noho in Guam

Author: 
Press Release