THE 12th National Mask Festival got off to a start at the Queen Elizabeth Park in Rabaul with the turnout of a small crowd mostly tourists.
The festival began with Tolai tumbuans of Kinavai at the Rabaul beachfront.
There were other performing groups comprising of the Tembin Kontu shark-calling group from New Ireland, Tabanis cultural group from North Solomons, and Asaro Mudmen from Eastern Highlands.
Master of ceremony Daniel Biang said due to bad weather, cultural groups from East Sepik, Morobe, and Madang could not make it to the festival.
He said despite the small crowd, which he attributed to the elections, the programme went ahead as scheduled.
Mr Biang said it was good to see many tourists at the festival as it was something positive for Rabaul and the East New Britain province.
The National spoke to some expatriate tourists who had good words to say about Rabaul and vowed to come back.
A female expatriate, Rae Smart, who is a volunteer with the organising committee of the festival, said it was pleasing to see locals take pride in displaying their culture.
Mrs Smart said even after the devastation of Rabaul in the 1994 volcanic eruptions, people were still holding their heads high and promoting their culture.
Mrs Smart said tourists had the privilege to see the festival in its infancy now as it would get bigger in the future.

Type In Your Name:

Type In Your E-mail:

Your Friend's E-mail:

Your Comments:

Receive copy: