THE Motu-Koita Assembly in partnership with the National Capital District Commission has recently announced the launch of the annual Hiri Moale Festival 2021 at the City Hall.
The Hiri Moale Festival is an annual event hosted by the Motu Koita Assembly; however the festival was cancelled last year 2020, due to onset of the first wave of Covid-19 cases in the country.
The festival celebrates an old tradition of the Motu people. For this year, 2021, Motu-Koita Assembly is pleased to announce that the Hiri Moale Festival will take place on the 19th to the 21st of November 2021, and is expected to be the biggest single canoe racing event ever hosted in Papua New Guinea.
The three-day event will kick start with a Hiri Moale Sponsor’s Night on the evening of Friday 19th November, followed by a day of festivities with activities taking place at the Amazing Port Moresby’s Era Kone on Saturday, and ending with the Hiri Hanenamo Crowning at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on Sunday 21st November 2021.
The organizers are expecting over 25 cultural dancing groups presenting their sacred dances and rituals. They will also host an all-day SME Market at the venue in collaboration with the POM City Markets, and will feature up to 50 indigenous SME’s, mostly owned by local women who will be selling their arts and crafts as well as authentic local food.
For this year’s Festival, the Motu-Koita Assembly has sought and obtained approval from the office of the Covid-19 Controller to host the event. All Covid-19 protocols will be followed to ensure the safety of the participants and the general public, who wish to attend the event.
Announcements will be made this week as to when the applications for the Hiri Hanenamo contest will be open, for contestants to send in their applications.
