Ambunti to stage grand festival

EAST Sepik is expected to host a bigger event in Ambunti next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the annual Sepik River Crocodile Festival.
With the theme, ‘Celebrating Culture and Nature’, president of the festival Alois Mateos said the event would be held on Aug 5-7.
Mateos said the Sepik River Crocodile festival had been successful since its inception in 2006.
He said the festival aimed to remind people to uphold their cultures and sustain the natural environment that surrounds them, especially the marine species that live in the waters of East Sepik.
Mateos said this year’s event would see up to 60 traditional singsing groups from Wosera/Gawi (Middle Sepik), Ambunti and Maprik districts.
He said invitations have been extended to tourists and invited guests including Tourism Arts and Culture Minister Tobias Kulang and acting Provincial Administrator Elizabeth Kaprangi.
He also commended the Ambunti and Hunstein LLG, Ambunti district administration, the office of Grand Chief Sir Micheal Somare and cooperate sponsors for their support in this year’s festival.
“I would like to thank corporate sponsors, like Bank South Pacific who pledged K25,000 for the event, National Development Bank with K5000, Trader Cooper with K9000 plus the support of print media, television and Mainland Holding with K20,000 for this festival,” Mateos said.