Association hopes to keep culture alive

THE Boem Sara Wianimba Association of Port Moresby hopes to keep its culture alive by teaching its people their traditions and language.
Boem Sara village is in Yangoru, East Sepik, and the association is conducting lessons in their local Yangoru language for its people at Lahara Avenue, 4-Mile.
There were about 60 participants enrolled for the training.
According to association deputy chairman Lionel Manua, language is one’s cultural identity and people identify one’s ethnicity through spoken language.
“Local language also gives one a sense of belonging.
“It was encouraging to see many young people and mothers from other provinces and districts showing an interest and pride to speak the language,” he said.
“Such local language training is the first of its kind for a traditional village community to host in the city.
“The training was necessitated by the desire of the community members to learn and preserve their traditional language before it is lost.”
Manua said many of their citizens had been away from the village, married outside of the community with children who missed out on learning the language and knowing their traditional ethnicity.