September is when it all happens… Papua New Guinea comes alive showing its diverse cultures.
Various shows line the month, giving visitors the opportunity to witness tribal traditions in an explosion of colour and sound.
Throughout the country, each province will stage a show to celebrate their unique culture.
Following are events captured by the Tourism Promotion Authority:
Enga Show
This annual cultural show will be from 15th-17th September, 2017.
It is staged in Wabag Town, a central location, offering the people of Enga the ideal opportunity to come together in a spectacular display of cultural unity.
Enga is the only province in Papua New Guinea where the people speak the same language - making them the largest ethnic and linguistic group in the nation.
But, there are slight variations in culture that the show hopes to capture and portray from the communities living in the five districts in the Province.
For further information on the event, visit the Enga Cultural Show official website: www.engaculturalshow.org.pg or contact Ms. Margaret Potane of the Enga Cultural Show Society, email: mpotane@gmail.com or phone: +675 547-1128 / +675 7351-5908
Bilum Festival
The Karkar Island Bilum Festival is the only show of its kind held on Karkar Island in Madang Province. It displays the beautiful traditional bilums that follow cultural and modern designs
The Karkar Island Bilum Festival will be held in Mapor Village from 15th-17th September, 2017. It will also feature cultural performances, displays, traditional bands, arts, crafts and much more.
For further information, contact Pholas Yongole, email: yongole.pholas@gmail.com or call: +675 7290-1415 or +675 422-3302 / +675 424-1300
Goroka Show
This is the longest running annual cultural festival in PNG that draws thousands every year.
The Goroka Show will be from 16th to the 17th of September and will be staged in Goroka Town, Eastern Highlands Province.
It aims to once more provide the best in cultural entertainment to the people of the Eastern Highlands Province and make visitors feel welcome from PNG and around the world.
Held every year during the weekend closest to Independence Day, the Goroka Show is PNG’s most well-known tribal gathering and cultural event, attracting more than 100 tribes to participate.
For further information regarding the Goroka Show, email Ms. Keryn Hargreaves gorokashow2014@gmail.com or phone: +675 532-2644.
Visit www.gorokaevents.com
Frangipani Festival
The Frangipani Festival celebrates the rebirth of Rabaul town in East New Britain after the twin volcanic eruptions in 1994.
Named after the frangipani flower, the town’s signature bloom and the first plant to blossom in the midst of the ash, the festival brings together locals and former Rabaul residents in the spirit of renewal and to strengthen the partnerships in rebuilding one of PNG’s famous historical towns.
The 2017 Frangipani Festival will be held from September 15th to 17th in Rabaul Town.
Festival highlights include cultural singsing like the incredible Baining Fire Dance and the Tolai Whip Dance, as well as rock bands, colourful float parades, spectacular fireworks and an exciting canoe race around the famous Beehives (Dawapia) landmark in the Simpson Harbour.
For further information, email the Rabaul Historical Society: rabaulmuseum@gmail.com or phone: +675 982-1999
Kutubu Festival
The Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival offers a rare treat of fascinating cultural performances from all over the Southern Highlands.
This year is the 7th year of the festival event, taking place from September 23rd and 24th.
The event celebrates the importance of the kundu drum and the Digaso oil in the traditional culture of the Kutubu people in the Southern Highlands Province. Hosted near the famous Lake Kutubu, local communities put on a singsing spectacle and unite in a show of support and respect of each other’s cultural differences.
Cultural groups will travel from remote parts of the province to participate in the festival celebrations.
For further information on the Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival, email: sjeffrey@wwwpacific.org or jeffreysaina@gmail.com phone: +675 325-1179 / +675 7333-0877
Hiri Moale Festival
This festival celebrates the epic journeys of the Motuans, re-enacting for current generations the craft and lore of days gone.
It’s held in Port Moresby from September 29-30.
Motu people race giant canoes and celebrate the shift in trade winds that traditionally brought traders home from the Gulf region where they exchanged earth-fired pots for food.
The highlight is the Miss Hiri Queen contest. The festival location is Ela Beach.
Lukim PNG Nau Tourism Expo 2017
Lukim PNG Nau 2017 will be staged in the nation's capital at the Port Moresby Nature Park, 24th – 26th September.
There will be cultural group performances along with products and services on offer by Papua New Guinea's tourism industry.
The Trade Days will consist of scheduled appointments with invited international tour wholesalers and agents. This event presents a unique opportunity to network with industry colleagues and international travel trade professionals.
The Lukim PNG Nau annual event will be the culmination of a week-long program of tourism awareness - Tourism Week, activities by the PNGTPA.
For further information, contact Mrs. Christine Peipul, email: info.lukimpngnau@gmail.com or subscribe for updates to the PNG Tourism Industry Association Facebook page.
More events will be announced over the month.