By GEORGINA MICHAEL
YANGORU Station came alive on September 16 as more than 40 cultural groups gathered for the inaugural Lomo Hangu Music Festival, bringing together the rich traditions, music and dances of the greater Sepik region.
Hosted by Minister for International Trade and Investment and Yangoru-Saussia MP, Hon. Richard Maru, the festival was held as part of celebrations marking Papua New Guinea’s 51st Independence anniversary.
The event attracted cultural groups from across East Sepik, including students from Passam National School of Excellence, who joined villagers and performers in showcasing the diverse cultural heritage of the Sepik.
For organisers and participants, however, the festival was more than an entertainment event. It was a celebration of identity and an opportunity for the people of the greater Sepik to take greater ownership of Independence.
The occasion also paid tribute to the late Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare, a son of the Sepik who played a central role in uniting Papua New Guinea and guiding the country to Independence.
Reviving Culture for the Next Generation
Speaking at the festival, Minister Maru said the Lomo Hangu Music Festival was established at a time when traditional values and cultural practices were increasingly being lost.
“This is part of our efforts to revive our culture as we are fast losing our traditional values,” Mr Maru said.
He said the festival would provide an avenue for cultural groups to develop their confidence and demonstrate their ability to represent Papua New Guinea nationally and internationally.
“We are hoping that some of our groups will prove today that they are qualified to represent us and go wherever they want to go and promote our culture,” he said.
Mr Maru said his vision was for the festival to become an annual event and eventually be included in the national calendar of cultural shows and festivals.
He also announced plans to work with the Department of Education and UNESCO to strengthen the teaching and preservation of culture in schools.
“That’s the only way we can promote culture within our schools. Next time we could have a school cultural festival here,” he said.
Namah Declares Lomo Hangu a National Event
Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Vanimo-Green MP, Hon. Belden Namah, attended the festival as a special guest and declared the Lomo Hangu Music Festival a national cultural event to be held annually in Yangoru on September 16.
Mr Namah said he was impressed by the scale and atmosphere of the celebration.
“I am proud to be a son of Sepik alongside my fellow Minister Hon. Richard Maru,” he said.
As Minister responsible for tourism, arts and culture, Mr Namah said his priority was to help revive authentic Papua New Guinean culture and use it as a foundation for tourism and economic development.
“As Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, I am in the business of reviving authentic culture. Culture keeps communities together. This festival must be the starting point to revive culture,” he said.
“We will indigenise our culture and modernise our industry. Our culture alone is a potential tourism product.”
Mr Namah said modern systems could change or fail, but culture remained an important foundation for communities and future generations.
He commended parents for passing traditional customs to their children, particularly the young children who participated in the festival.
“When combining culture with education, Papua New Guinea will be paradise. When we go back to our culture, we can be God-fearing and prosperous,” he said.
Government Support Announced
Mr Namah announced K500,000 in annual support for the Lomo Hangu Music Festival, revealing that K350,000 had already been released to support this year’s event.
He also announced that the best cultural group from the festival would be selected to represent Papua New Guinea in Fiji.
Mr Namah said his ministry had also provided financial support to other festivals in the Sepik, including K350,000 for the Crocodile Festival, K150,000 for the Yam Festival and K500,000 for the East Sepik Cultural Show.
“I have not been to any of those festivals but I am here for the Lomo Hangu Music Festival, which reflects leadership,” he said.
Namah Honoured as Chief of Yangoru-Saussia
One of the most significant moments of the festival came when traditional leaders of Yangoru-Saussia honoured Mr Namah and declared him a Chief of Yangoru-Saussia.
The traditional ceremony included the presentation of kina shells, a headdress, buai (betel nut) and baskets as tokens of respect and recognition.
In response to the honour, Mr Namah announced an additional K500,000 for the festival.
“Today, because of this occasion and the custom work, I will give another K500,000 to Lomo Hangu Music Festival and it will be an annual event. Next year we will make it bigger and better,” he said.
He also pledged a further K50,000 before the end of December.
Recognising Local Leadership
Festival Director Mr Samuel Pongiura was also commended for his efforts in documenting the history of East Sepik, particularly Yangoru-Saussia, and bringing together cultural groups from across the province.
“One man’s leadership attracts the entire province, attracts the entire Sepik region,” Mr Namah said.
Mr Namah also praised Minister Maru’s leadership at both district and national levels, noting his service in several ministerial portfolios.
“Minister Maru continues to show resilience and strong leadership and will persist for things he aims for. A man whose actions speak louder than his words,” he said.
Mr Namah pointed to Mr Maru’s work as Minister for International Trade and Investment, particularly his push for Special Economic Zones around the country, including the proposed Vanimo Free Trade Zone, which he said was expected to be licensed in December.
A Call for Economic Independence
The festival also provided a platform for leaders to reflect on Papua New Guinea’s journey since Independence and the country’s next challenge — achieving economic independence.
In his Independence message, Mr Maru stressed the importance of leadership and urged the people of Yangoru-Saussia to remain vigilant in choosing their leaders.
“Leadership is very important, hence be very careful about leadership, and Yangoru-Saussia must defend its leadership. When there’s outstanding national leadership, changes will follow,” Mr Maru said.
He highlighted developments in education, infrastructure, agriculture, health and security in Yangoru-Saussia, including the upcoming opening of the new Mobile Barracks.
Mr Namah said while Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare had helped deliver political independence, Papua New Guinea still had to achieve economic independence.
“We already have political independence and are in need of economic independence. Papua New Guinea must break free from debts and stop borrowing whilst being rich in resources. I believe with the leadership of Hon. Richard Maru and myself, PNG will get economic independence,” he said.
He also called on leaders to put political differences aside and work together to advance development across the greater Sepik.
“Let’s not allow political differences to stop development,” Mr Namah said.
As the final dances and performances brought the inaugural festival to a close, the message from Yangoru was clear: for the people of the Sepik, culture is not simply a memory of the past, but a foundation for educating the next generation, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for the future.