By JOEL K ANDREW
THE legendary Central Music artist late Steve Lahui was commemorated through the initiation of a registered annual music festival under his name as “Steve Lahui Music Festival”.
The music festival was initiated by the family members of Steve Lahui and have it registered through the National Cultural Commission (NCC) and the Department of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Last Friday, the family members of late Lahui had a privilege to host Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture Isi Henry Leonard as the keynote speaker at the official launching of the Steve Lahui Music Festival at Elevala village in Hanuabada.
Minister Leonard thanked the immediate family of Steve Lahui for taking a bold initiative to register their father’s trademark which was then certified by the NCC and presented to Junior Steve Lahui as the successor of his late grandfather.
He said this was a courageous approach taken by the family and his ministry will assist them in marketing and advertising to a much wider audience throughout the world, as local Papua New Guinea music has good prominence in the global digital markets.
“Music will never die, lyrics will never die as long as you record it and keep in the archives in the studios or radio stations.
“Therefore, to honor their late father who was a great musician, we proceeded to register this very important event.
“The music of Steve Lahui and other prominent local contemporary musicians and artists in Papua New Guinea will never change because they were recorded in its originality,” he said.
“This is a significant milestone for Southern Region because we celebrate and honor one of the greatest pioneer musicians of Southern Region and Central Province.
“Since the Steve Lahui Music Festival is formally registered, certified and launched, it has now transformed into a brand and a tourism product to be utilized in promoting tourism, arts and culture.”
The Minister also appealed to the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), Central Provincial Government, and local community leaders and parliamentarians to get behind supporting this commodity so that an attractive tourism product is packaged.
“The NCC and TPA are there to promote and support the event so that we attract more people overseas to come and support by investing in the event.
“For me as Minister, I work around to find space and avenue to bring in or develop new products to ensure that we have a variety of products in the country to showcase our culture, people, and music to the world.”
As part of their continued support towards empowering local cultural and arts festivals throughout the country, the NCC has again supported the Steve Lahui Annual Music Festival with a funding support of K5000, to help them prepare for the hosting in 2024.
