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Where two worlds meet
BY ZACHERY PER
Melisa Joy Wagner of Chicago,
Illinois in the United States of America considers herself a
clanswoman of the Lapilo village in Goroka, Eastern Highlands
province.
This follows after Melisa tied the knot with her husband Gizo
Sogavo the traditional way last Thursday, witnessed by a large
crowd of relatives and villagers.
Bizo, the eldest son of prominent businessman and farmer Sogavo
Momoto has been living in USA for the past ten years where he met
Melissa.
They have a six-month old son Alexander Momoto Sogavo who was born
in Kudzip Nazarene hospital in Western Highlands province.
The couple had a western style wedding in Chicago on September 17
last year witnessed by both their parents and relatives.
The occasion last Thursday was to culturally and traditionally
formalize the marriage in the true custom of Bizo's people in
Ungai-Bena district.
It was to further strengthen and reaffirm their marital vows.
The neighboring Keiya village acted as Melisa's relatives taking
her as their daughter and decorated her in traditional attire and
brought her to Gizo's village for the traditional formalities.
Mr Sogavo thanked Melisa's parents, Glen and Kathy Wagner who
traveled from Chicago to witness the marriage for the decision to
allow their daughter to marry his son.
He also thanked Melisa for accepting his son as her husband.
"It is the first time in the record of this area for a white girl
to marry here, I will ensure her welfare is protected until the
end of the world," Mr Sogavo said.
He renamed the girl as 'Girokaro' which mean "a very special
flower hidden in Lapilo village" in the local dialect.
Melisa's parents expressed great satisfactions over the
overwhelming reception and respect the people showed them and
their daughter.
They thanked their in-law's relatives especially his father Mr
Sogavo for the warm welcome, hospitality and reception that made
them feel at home during their stay here.
Melisa confidently joined the village girls danced and sang along
with them throughout the entire process of the ceremony.
Mr Wagner said they came to PNG for two special reasons, which are
to witness the traditional formalization of their daughter's
marriage and to see their grandson (Alexander Momoto Sogavo).
He thanked Mr Sogavo and the people of Lapilo and Keiya villages
for making the event a memorable one.
Mr Sogavo presented K5, 000 cash, one cow, several live chickens
and food stuff to the Wagners as part of bride price payment. He
also presented another K1, 000, a pig and several live chickens to
the Keiya villagers that acted as the girl's tribal members to
make the occasion a success.
He slaughtered three cows, six pigs, several chickens and gathered
thousands of kina worth of food stuff for the marriage ceremony.
Mr Sogavo said they spent around K20,000 to make the event to
become a success.
Missionaries from the nearby New Tribes Mission mostly Americans
flocked to the occasion to witness on of their country-woman
getting married for a young man from PNG. They had another
opportunity to keep their cameras busy taking pictures of this
magnificent event.
The missionaries were also presented with some food stuff by host
Mr Sogavo.
 
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