Bilum weavers from Porgera grab three top prizes at festival

THREE bilum weavers from Porgera claimed the top three awards in the bilum wear category at the recent Bilum Festival in Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
The invitation to the festival came following a two-week bilum weaving training course that was facilitated for women in Porgera, Enga, in June by Jaukae Bilum Products trainer Florence Jaukae Kamel, who is founder of the festival.
The training was sponsored by the Porgera Joint Venture (PJV), through its community development section.
PJV also supported the three women’s participation at the festival.
The Bilum Festival was held from Sept 12-15 and was staged as a lead-up to the Goroka Cultural Show, which falls annually on Sept 16.
Bilum weavers from Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East Sepik and Porgera, exhibited an array of bilum products over three days to tourists and international buyers.
The Porgera weavers were represented by Pauline William from Mungulep, Alice Six from Alipis and Yangopie Meke from Kulapi.
Kulapi and Alipis are villages within the Porgera special mine lease (SML).
All three women are unemployed and depend on informal activities to sustain themselves.
The Porgera weavers entered four bilum dresses of the total eight that were entered for the bilum wear category and collected the top three awards for the category.
All of the bilum dresses submitted for judging were showcased at a gala event and were judged by an independent panel of judges.
The bilum dresses were judged on the technique used, quality, and most importantly, the history or story behind the piece.
For William, who designed the wining dress, it was a wonderful moment.
“It was my first time to weave a bilum dress,” William said.
“I had no idea how to design or take the measurements to make a bilum dress but Florence (Kamel) taught us the skills and knowledge of making a bilum dress and I am so happy that my dress won first place.”
Porgera weavers Jacklyn Nathan and Six claimed the second and third spots in the bilum dress category.
PJV community development manager Jacqueline Nen, who accompanied the bilum weavers to Goroka, said PJV was providing such platforms for local women to generate an income.
“In talking to buyers and potential customers, the trip gave us an idea of what the consumer ultimately wants, and for our weavers to tailor their products to meet consumer demand,” Nen said.
“There are two life skills women from the Highlands (including Porgera) are naturally good at – farming and bilum weaving.
“However, our challenge is in ensuring that we meet market demand in all we do, so that in the process, there is economic viability in what comes naturally to our women.”