| Sports |
A wedding to
witness
Tucked away on either side of the
banks on the upper reaches of the Keram River, a tributary of
the mighty Sepik River, is Simando village.
For the locals nothing much has changed over the years. For the
most part, the river is their source of life. It provides them
drinking water, food and access to the outside world. For
generations their customs and traditions, myths and legends have
been built around this important source - the Keram River.
Today, they have also become mere observers watching banana
boats and motorized dugout canoes loaded with cargo headed
further up the river where there are reports of a "gold rush" of
sorts with alluvial miners seeking to make a fortune by panning
for gold at the base of far away mountains where the Keram River
begins its journey. Like many remote areas of Papua New Guinea,
their problems are further impounded by the lack of basic
government services.
Angoram, the district headquarters is some two hours by banana
boat down river and onto the Sepik River but then again, one has
to complete the three hour journey by road to Wewak if you
really need better goods and services.
But all it seems is not lost for the people of Simando, when all
else has failed to fuel any economic activities in their area,
they are now leaning towards tourism as a vehicle to at least
bring some form of development to their area. In so doing, they
have turned to their age old cultures and traditions as a lure
for tourists to visit their area.
Local village councilor Adam Wangi first dreamt the idea of
hosting a mini-cultural show four years ago but the show has
never really taken off. The villagers never really give up hope
though and recently met up with local Sepik River tourism
operator Alois Mateos. Mateos who runs mostly river tours up the
Sepik in Ambunti offered to help market the show for Wangi and
his people. For Wangi and his people, Mateos was a God sent -
the answer to their prayers.
"We struggled for the last three years to promote our show but
since we've established contact with Alois, we are now confident
we can bring tourists to our village," said Wangi.
Given his vast experience is hosting tourists, Mateos realized
that in order to attract tourists all the way to Simando, there
had to be a "pull factor" some special attraction that was
unique to that area only.
Mateos said: "The Sepik region and its arts and artifacts are
already a major attraction but for tourists to make that extra
mile to Simando, we had to come up with something special." So
following hours of planning and brainstorming, the idea of
reviving an age old sacred and traditional marriage ceremony was
given birth to as the main attraction of the Keram mini-cultural
show.
So after many years of absence, the first traditional marriage
ceremony of the Keram people was re-enacted at the 4th Keram
mini-cultural show in June this year. Mateos was invited as the
official guest with me representing the TPA - our aim was to
assess whether with the inclusion of the traditional marriage
ceremony, the show had the potential to lure curious tourists
from far away lands.
There is an air on anticipation on the morning of the show as
villagers rise early for the big day ahead. Several traditional
dance groups from nearby villages have arrived the night before
so the show is looking good already. However, it's in the middle
of the campaign period and the roar of helicopter engines ring
above the tops of the sago palms as local MP Arthur Somare makes
a quick stop to witness a bit of the show while commending Wangi
and his committee for organizing the show. The marriage ceremony
is brought forward slightly for the sake of the Member and
begins with the procession of Canoes loaded traditionally
dressed clans men and women of the bride delivering him to the
main arena for the exchange of vows with the groom. Certain
rituals are performed along the way as the bride makes his way
to the ceremonial ground. The groom is kept hidden from the
public eye in an enclosed section at one end of the ground until
bridge is given the all clear the cross an imaginary line and
call her out for marriage. All the while, the singing and
dancing and chants continue. The groom finally emerges from her
hamlet and is taken to the centre of the arena where traditional
marriage vows are exchanged under the watchful eyes of an
elderly woman dressed and painted for the part with a very old
looking bilum hanging loosely from her head. Following the
exchange of vows, the bride then takes the groom and exits the
arena. Mateos, a strong believer of maintaining old customs and
traditions, is impressed with what he has witnessed. "We must
always strive to maintain our traditions and cultures," he tells
the crowd, "Not only for tourists but for our future
generations. We may be wearing the white man's clothes but it's
what underneath that's important to us and we can only maintain
our identity by maintaining our traditional customs."
Mateos says if marketed properly, we could not only have
tourists but make also it a popular attraction local residents
of Angoram and Wewak, particularly school children. The
traditional marriage ceremony and the Keram mini-cultural show
are now slated for June 8, 2008. Mateos says the Keram show is
being sold as a whole package which will compliment the Wapi
Sagi or traditional yam ceremony in Maprik on June 9 and ending
with the now popular Sepik Iron Man in Wewak on June 2008. "The
tourist or visitor here will get to have a fulfilling experience
covering all the events in the one weekend," said Mateos. At
last the people of Simando have something to look forward to
now.
For more info email info@pngtourism.org.pg web
www.pngtourism.org.pg
 
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