By AUGUSTINE MENIMBI
HAPPY 46th anniversary to the country where mountains meet the sea, where the jungles are lush and plentiful. The land where agriculture realized its full potential, where emotion is raw and unfettered by convention.
Here the people are genuine in their lifestyle, yet shrewd and resourceful in their quest to survive. They have many tongues, many cultures, many methods of doing the same things and of different things. There is strife, naturally. But wouldn’t there be conflict when different colors clash in a painting, or when so many flavors and spices are mixed into a curry or a casserole?
This is the land of trade unionists, of big men, of persuasive talkers and awakened leaders, who saw themselves as human beings and not servile darkies: the Michael Somares, the Paul Lapuns and Donatus Molas, the Albert Maori Kikis, the Oala Oala Raruas, the Tei Abals and Iambakey Okuks. Fiery ladies too, in Carol Kidu, denying and disowning her own racist family in Queensland to love her dark knight in shining legal armor in Sir Buri Kidu, or Josephine Abaijah and her Papua Besena movement, or Nahau Rooney daring to defy Somare Sana when given a directive to cease a prosecution. Even into the 80s there were Tony Ila, Utula Samana and Bernard Narokobi. All Melanesian Socialists, all against neoliberalism, capitalism and exploitation of man by man. Their spirit is carried by Duncan Gabi, Emmanuel Peni, and other such like-minded people who are not and will never be content with the status quo as concerns the people and their means of production. Even now we have our Bikpela Pisin in Allan Bird, Hunjara Gary Juffa, Flying Fox Bryan Kramer and James Donald among others walking the talk, or at least trying to.
This is the land of great artists, scholars, poets, musicians and actors, all expressive in their dance, music, poetry and prose, as well as scholarly articles, research papers, white papers and the like. In literature, poetry or otherwise, we have many who are colourful and vibrant, who tantalise our senses with all manner of poetic and literary devices. The John Kasaipwalovas, the Russel Soabas, the Steven Winduos, the Vincent Serei Eris, the Ignatius Kilages, Loujaya Kouzas as well. In the dramatic arts we have actors and playwrights in their own special style, Nora Vagi Brash and now Andrew Kuliniasi keeping the flame alight. Xzanjannah Matsi’s role in Mr. Pip also comes to mind, William Takaku in ‘Tukana: Husat I Asua?’ opening other worlds. The only real loss is that there are very few women willing to tell stories in our nation, a symptom of our patriarchy which we must root out.
I have yet to even tell you about our painters and musicians: the Feeger brothers (Jeffery and Mairi), Mathias Kawage, Timothy Akis, Jakupe Ako, Florence Jaukae with her bilum designs. Playton Gombo, John Warbat, Danson “Kamit” Mamua, Austin Waira, Marcus ‘Mafra’ Mamele, Kabu Rita, Donald Lessy, em yumi no sot long ol guitarist. Adrian Gedisa, Michael Toravie, na Jeff Vagalia tu pulim lain bihainim ol lapun stap. Drummers and keyboardists have we plenty: John and Ben Hakalitz, Henry Maniot, Lino Tiriman, Don Avini, Mitchell Samei, William Porchie; the keys: Patti “Potts” Doi (King of Pacific Music), Bradley Ralewa (rest in peace) the inventor of Block Music, Matalau Nakikus, all preceded by Buruka Tau, who left us early this month. You want bass? Kennedy Toliman (vale), Martin Bobo, Nathan Walters and Glen and Juan Low have enough groove to last you a lifetime. All these and more have led the way for the George Teleks, the Julie Tolimans, the Rabbie Gamenus, the Painim Woks, the Riot Squads, the Bluff Inn Soles, the Vuvu Vibrations, and so on and so forth. None of these musicians would even reach their true potential without good engineers. Greg Seeto, Mike Wild, Basil Greg, Thomas Lulungan, Inut Russiat, and Digby “Daas Mangi” Holeong, all excellent behind the consoles.
But what of our academics? Our engineers? Our professionals? Do they not get a celebration? Let us cheer loudly for the Dr. John Waikos, the Joe Ketans, the Michael Mels, all academics in their own right. Professor Ketan’s work in the Western Highlands, telling the story of how Medlpas of Kuk showed the world how to irrigate and grow bananas and sugarcane before the written word is legendary. So legendary, in fact, that even 21 years to the day he published his thesis in Australia, people still cite the thesis in every major university on this planet. John Waiko’s documentary of his return to his Binandere people in the 80s is still a riveting work to this day, showing the world our multifaceted society in a proud and excellent light. With engineers, we have Thompson Benguma, whose ecofriendly biofuel concepts have been saddeningly ignored by successive governments in favour of non-renewable energy, and Brian Alois, whose penchant for perfection and attention to detail exposed corruption in the road construction projects on the Lae periphery, to the point of his dismissal by the powers that were in 2018. Professionals like Dr. Sam Yockopua, POMGEN’s top dog, Mellah Kilangit, maestro of audiovisual tools and photography, Captain Tico Narara, pilot of many years standing, all flying the red, black and gold.
And lastly, our sportsmen. John Kaputin, his speed and strength being an instant hit at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, so much so that Kone Tigers broke the colour bar in the Port Moresby Rugby League to play him as their winger. Weightlifting, please don’t get me started. Dika Toua, the first female Olympian in Weightlifting, winning medal after medal in the Commonwealth and Pacific Games, followed closely by Steven Kari, his sister Rita, and others. Ryan Pini’s 2006 Commonwealth Games was a wonderful memory for our generation, his silver in the 100m butterfly sending PNGnians in raptures. Rugby League? Too many stars of note, the Tara Gaus and Bernard Sabumeis and Stainer Sapus of the 70s, the 80s bringing Dairi Kovae, the brothers Kouoru, Arebo Taumaku, Bobby Ako, Peter Peng, Robert Kubak, Chris Itam. Ooh boy, the 90s, with Lucas Solbat, John “Hino” Yawing, Raymond Karl, James Kops, Adrian Lam with his Queensland heroics in ‘95, Tuksy Karu and company following along. 2000s and 2010s, with the likes of David Mead, Paul Aiton, Dion Aiye, Jessie Joe Parker and others holding the Kumul torch throughout some dark times. Paul Joseph, Willie Rikis, Frank Genia and others rep the Pukpuks with style, and our cricketers are now planning to gain T20 glory.
You may wonder why I have not mentioned our biodiversity, our natural resources, our native flora and fauna, and other such things. Perhaps I may have forgotten. Perhaps I may have not cared enough to mention them. Enough of the speculation. I have chosen not to mention any of those things because none of these resources are as important as these two: the people of this land, and their self-belief. We still have people in this country. The main problem is that we lost our self-belief. We have read too much of our negative press and have given into despair, and now we have given this lack of self-belief onto our young ones. The names mentioned above should serve to not only awaken the smouldering embers of our self-belief, but these should also send them into an unrelenting bushfire to engulf the whole of Papua New Guinea with a newfound zeal to guide us throughout our daily lives. We don’t know how capable we truly are until we believe. That’s all we have to do, believe. Happy 46th.
