CULTURE

Cultural show a testament to unity

By MAX ORAKA
STEP into a world where vibrant colours, captivating melodies or singsings (songs), and enchanting dances to create a mesmerising spectacle that is a Papua New Guinea cultural show.
We all know that a cultural show is an extraordinary event that celebrates the tapestry of cultures that exist in our diverse societies.
From the serene melodies of traditional songs to the energetic beats of kundus and slit drums, such diverse cultural events invite you on a journey to explore the beauty of different traditions and foster a sense of unity among people of all backgrounds.
Caritas Technical Secondary School (CTSS) recently staged its 26th cultural show in Port Moresby where students within the three schools in CTSS (Caritas primary, Caritas secondary and Business college) combined in 22 cultural groups from different provinces.
Caritas acting Principal Grace Ani said the cultural show celebrated was also a way to showcase PNG’s different cultures with the theme “promoting different cultures through unity.”
“There were almost 1,000-plus students who participated in the cultural show in their different cultural groups. Students getting involved cultural shows is a good way to promote unity and celebrate diversity.
“It allows them to take pride in the cultural identity and develop a sense of belonging within their communities,” Ani said.

About the event and how it impacts people
With the significant turnout of people at the cultural show, the event was a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
The presence of many attendees and traditional dancers created an electrifying atmosphere filled with energy and excitement.
With the diverse cultural groups presented, there was an ample opportunity for cultural exchange and learning as different individuals interacted with one another.
The Caritas cultural show was a “delight in a kaleidoscope of traditions” where attendees who entered the venue were enveloped in an array of cultures (meaning constant changing patterns and sequence of cultures).
The cultural groups where from the four regions of Papua New Guinea that trail from the highlands provinces down to the islands and coastal provinces.
Each cultural group, one after another, took to the stage to showcase their unique dances to the beat of their kundu drums. As the dancers continued their performances, their movements became an enchanting narrative, depicting stories passed down through generations.
Their legs moved in sync, displaying strength and agility while symbolising the unity of their tribes.
The sound of kundu drums reverberated creating a powerful backdrop for the dancers.
The audience couldn’t help but be captivated by the trance-like atmosphere, completely immersed in the beauty of the moment.
As the group from the highlands emerged their dance was an act of energetic leaps and intense footwork.
With every power stomp, their connection to the land seemed to intensify.
Their dance reflected the resilience and strength of their ancestors, paying homage to generations past and cultural heritage.
The air was filled with the scent of various tumbuna bilas (traditional attires), promising a wonderful experience.
Each provincial cultural group stalls were adorned with handicrafts, traditional clothing and artifacts showcasing the richness of each culture.
The excitement was palpable as attendees from diverse backgrounds gather to embrace the uniqueness of every tradition. The captivating performances from each cultural groups lighted up the dancing ground which the people were enthralled by the graceful movements of classical PNG dancers as their vibrant costumes and intricate dances told stories of their ancient mythology.
Each performance from the cultural groups was a mark of each provinces tradition, and a reminder of the boundless beauty found within each culture.
At the heart of the cultural show lies the aspiration to bridge gaps between cultures and foster unity.
As people/students from diverse backgrounds gathered, conversations were sparked and connections were made.
The shared appreciation for one another’s traditions helps to forge lasting friendships, promoting harmony within our multicultural society.
Such events like cultural shows serve as a reminder that despite our differences, we share a common humanity and can find strength in our diversity.

Sir Ebia Olewale a founding father

By DANIEL EALEDONA
CALL it ignorance or being uninformed.
There is a clear lack of knowledge that today’s Papua New Guinean children seem to have. Which is the knowledge and history of PNG nationals who have contributed immensely to the independence and development of this country.
Most of these children seem to not know the important work done by many Papua New Guineans in the past who have in some way contributed meaningfully in their service toward nation building.
Why is this the case one may ask? Well, the problem could be linked to how many forgotten heroes of PNG’s history have remained forgotten. Their stories were never written and published.
Ebia Olewale: A Life of Service, written by Johnathan Richie is a literary piece that celebrates the life and service of a great Papua New Guinean leader and serviceman. It is a reading that inspires to ignite a fire within to emotionally have a deep sense of wanting to contribute positively to the development of your country, aspiring to be ethically righteous citizens that serve PNG for the right reasons.
Niwia Ebia Olewale was part of the first generation of educated elites who contributed toward guiding the country to independence. His biography about his life provides a written record of his life.
From his birth in 1940 to his death in 2009, Olewale began his life in his native village of Kunini in the Bineturi river of South Fly district of Western. His generation were the first natives to complete primary school at the time, through the mission school system. After completing primary school, Olewale went on to attend school in the regional headquarters at Daru.
He was a recipient of a scholarship to further his studies in Australia, but was unfortunately deemed over the age as the cut of age was 15 years, while Olewale was 17 years old at the time.
Nevertheless, he was selected to attend Sogeri Vocational High School, the only government high school at the time. He then trained as a teacher at the Port Moresby Teachers College and worked briefly as a teacher and union worker, before involving himself in politics in the late 1960s.
The years 1970 to 1975 were when Olewale started involving himself in nationalist politics. In 1972, he was elected as a member of the first House of Assembly representing his home electorate South Fly.
He was a founding member of Pangu Pati. During his 10 years in parliament, Olewale was at one time the deputy leader of Pangu and also served as a deputy prime minister under the government of late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. He became deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister as well, after Sir Albert Maori Kiki lost his seat in the 1978 election. Olewale was a senior member of parliament and shared the same influential capacities that other prominent leaders of that time had. He lasted only a single term after 1978. He was defeated in the 1982 election. He never regained the South fly seat after 1982. The years after his political exit, were years of disappointment, violence and outright corruption within the PNG political environment.
There was a sudden shift in political activities. Leaders now increased their corrupt and deceiving behaviour. That was the beginning of the downfall of PNG politics, and the fundamental development of accountable and honest political leadership types.
There was no place for him in the public service. His political rivals blocked his career options. Olewale went on to do projects around the South Fly area but never truly regained the support to re-enter office. He was a businessman for some while but never really expanded his business.
He believed in the united PNG, a principle shared with his compatriots. These were leaders such as Sir John Guise, Sir Michael Somare and Sir Maori Kiki among other elites of the time. In his biography his speaks of separatism, of how he described “sitting on the banks of the river and looking out to the Torres Strait, how he imagined of helping his country.”
Separatism could be described as the way PNG was at the time. These were factors such as geography, language, regionalism and identity of the people of PNG (1930s to 1960s).
Regionalism was a strong factor that defined life in PNG. The colonial administrators had done well in separating New Guinea and Papua. This could be seen, by how New Guineans mainly spoke Tok Pisin in contrast to Papuans and Southern region natives who widely spoke Hiri Motu.
Uniting a land that was filled with extreme diversity is no simple task, it had to take a real strong nationalist belief to carry out such a task.
That is why Olewale believed in united PNG, he believed that PNG was blessed with over 800 diverse cultures and strongly believed that these diverse regions could be governed under one united government and national flag.
His life is a testimony and history of a sub-regional village boy who amounted to influencing the unification of this diverse nation which is a history of this country.
Author Johnathan Ritchie mentioned how, “Ebia served both the people and the nation in various capacities and avoided the corruption prevalent in his contemporaries.”
According to Ritchie, Ebia’s life could be described as PNG’s story. Ritchie had a sense of admiration and respect for the efforts Sir Ebia gave toward helping build a nation of 800 languages, and bringing all these diverse peoples together under one government.
The influence of this publication has convinced this research reporter to be a better Papua New Guinean. Sir Ebia’s biography should be taught in literature and studied in secondary schools.
This publication had and still has the capacity to influence many young untamed minds across the country.
It is important to note that there should be more biographies written about prominent Papua New Guineans but more specifically the “unsung heroes” of PNG.
Such as Nora Vagi Brash an accomplished Papuan author. Or Sir Gibbs Salika, the current Chief Justice.
There should be more written biographies about Papua New Guineans. Because biographies can in one major way inspire a generation to be better leaders and citizens within their communities and country as a whole.
As a young village boy, Olewale believed he would one day see the world, and he accomplished that dream.
A final thought to ponder: Are the current generation of elites ready to lead this remarkable nation, based on the knowledge and triumphs of our heroes of the past?