By CHARLIE DUMAVI
IN Islands way, the people of Samarai Murua in Milne Bay province will be hosting the Island Music and Dance festival on the Island of Misima, Bwagoia in recondition to their unique culture.
The festival was launched in Port Moresby last Thursday by Samarai Murua local member and Minister for tourism, Arts and culture, Hon. Isi Henry Leonard.
The event is already gaining momentum with overwhelming support ahead of the actual day later this month.
“I am very thankful to make the launch of this occasion, maybe it’s small but for me it is very significant. It is the way forward in supporting our tourism program and at the same time we give recognition to our culture, ourselves, our identity.
“I come from the maritime district in Milne Bay and for us, we have diverse culture and our own way of singing and dancing, including our own way of presenting ourselves in promoting our unique culture,” Minister Leonard said.
He said the culture will be promoted through music and dance on the Islands by the people who are the rightful custodians of the cultural practices for so many times.
“We have our singinsing groups and they will sing and dance in true pasin tumbuna. We need to showcase our culture and identify them and use our culture to move forward and progress this country forward. If we do that, we can monetise it and others will come in,” Leonard said.
He also added that after the COVID-19 and all the negativity the provincial capital had gone through, this did not stop the tourists from overseas to visit the province and that is one of the events that will generate more interest in the industry.
The minister also thanked the National Cultural Commission for their K10, 000 support towards hosting the event.
He said it is through such support that hosting of event as this will help local cultures be documented and kept in the years to come.
