Czech visitor amazed

COVER STORY

By KEVIN DAYONGA
THE Twin Otter glided through the altostratus as it descended into a clear patch leaving behind trails of jet blast forming long white streaks as it passed through parts of the overcast lake.
The weather wasn’t kind to the travelling city sleekers and few tourists that were on their way to Daga Village to attend the Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival. As the pilots manoeuvred the plane into sight, the breath-taking view of the magnificent lake sprawled across the vast landscape came into view, although covered by cumulonimbus spread across the horizon. A Czech tourist was amazed with its beauty.
The tyres of the plane screeched on the rough tarmac as it snapped my senses back to reality. We just arrived in Moro, a mining campsite right in the heart of Kutubu, an important source of income that has been feeding our national purse.
This was my ninth trip coming back to this part of the country, not as a journalist in the mainstream but a volunteer of Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival.
The cool breeze welcomed us as we disembarked from the aircraft. On one side of the airport, the contractors are still busy working, choppers landing and taking off; at a far distance kumuls (Birds of Paradise) danced on the top of the branches as if imitating the helicopters’ movements.
While the extractions from beneath the earth are happening, the beauty of this region displayed itself with ease as we hit the road. My newfound friend Vaclav Pistora was struck in awe as his eyes darted left to right trying to catch a glimpse of the rainforest and its many wonders. With a few stops at the roadside market, the city sleekers plunged at the buai tables before the long ride to the festival venue.
An hour ride to the festival village was a daunting one for those who never travelled this highway. For some local first timers, the question of development was bombarding their minds; for the tourists, it didn’t matter. This was an adventure of a lifetime to see a new place and experience different cultures, local food among many other things.
It was a rousing welcome when we arrived in the evening, despite the drizzle; the locals were already at hand welcoming each one of us. From a distance one could hear kundu beats accompanied by chants and various instruments tantalising the ears with its sweetest authentic melody.
Welcome to Daga Village – the home of the Kutubu Kundu and Digaso festival. My friend Vaclav was overwhelmed with the hospitality. He flew three days from his native Czech Republic to see for himself the cultural extravaganza that has been happening for the past nine years.
“I fell in love with PNG years ago and decided to come back the second time,” he confesses.
“I came last year, and it blew my mind. I wanted to see something authentic, something that is staged in a village setting rather than in towns. I wanted to experience the life in this area, the food, the people and the environment in which they live in.

“For the second time, I’m still caught in awe, the atmosphere was so welcoming, the people were full of energy and danced with pride, mimicking birds and telling their own stories in that form.
“They danced two days from morning till evening with minimum breaks. I loved the colours, very exquisite and each paint depicted different stages of their lives, as well as the clans they represented. The authenticity is beyond any tourist’s imagination.
“The canoe race at Lake Kutubu was another spectacular display. Having seen men and women compete in the race was an amazing experience.
“The festival was well planned, and the organisers were very helpful. They made sure I got on the flight, housed at the festival village, given food and enjoyed the warm hospitality. I noticed that people are very reliable without telephones, they didn’t rely on all this technology to make them happy. This was something different from where I come from,’’ he said.
With the festival theme Strongim na Wok Bung Wantaim, it calls for local communities to share ideas, strengthen each other and work together to enhance growth in their communities.

“ I fell in love with PNG years ago and decided to come back the second time

The festival continues to bring hope to more than 40 different indigenous conservation communities from Kutubu, Bosavi and Kikori areas as well those from Hela, Enga and the nearby surrounding LLGs.
Organiser, Saina Jeffrey Philyara says this festival has united communities and opened opportunities for tourism and other sustainable means of development initiatives that is benefiting more than fifteen thousand people.
“The Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival is a celebration of indigenous cultures. It plays a vital role in safeguarding traditional practices and the diverse biodiversity and cultural heritage of the people. It provides a forum to highlight the sharing and exchanging of cultural knowledge for their wellbeing, establish deeper understanding and build long term friendship,’’ she said,
Since 2011, the event has brought together people from more than 40 different indigenous communities, tourists from all over the world to experience its exquisite, authentic and fascinating cultural fiesta that is held in this remote part of Papua New Guinea. All the performance was exclusively performed in front of the Kutubu longhouse which plays a significant role in the lives of the Kutubu people.
Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tammur was amazed with the turn out.
“All your oil, gas and other minerals will go, but your tradition, your culture will continue and the future generations will carry on that legacy.

“I’d like you to hold on your culture, this is your identity, it identifies who you are. Wherever you go, show it to the world. To the young people, custom and traditions come with respect, give it where it is due and draw from your elders. You will never go wrong.
“Tourism is number one and will continue to strive in our society.
“TPA will continue to support this event and we will give another K100,000 kina next year,’’ Minister Tammur says. Philyara says that the festival is the only platform created to showcase to the world their unique rich, biological and cultural diversity in the country.
“Our participation in this festival allows us to connect to other people and enable us to break barriers, forge mutual respect and appreciate one another. We have seen growth and interest among people in the communities, individual tourists and tour operators over the past years and we’d like to see that continue.”
Festival chairman James Irimaru regards this event as a platform to promote not only Kutubu but the wider region including Bosavi, Samberigi, Kikori and Hela. It also preserves their cultural and environment. “Like any other community in the country, we have a fair share of issues hindering our progress. This sustainable development programme initiated nine years ago has empowered a lot of people here in Daga as well those that come and participate.
“We’d like to think that we are a model community. We want to see other communities learn from us and develop sustainable ways of engaging developments in their areas. We are committed in maintaining the festival. Our people are resilient and have always been good hosts to our visitors,” Irimaru says.
“We are thankful that with the ongoing support from developers like Oil Search, ExxonMobil, government agencies such as National Cultural Commission, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Southern Highlands provincial administration, landowner companies such as Petroleum Recourses Kutubu, Mineral Resources Development Corporation, and the hard working NGOs.
“The never-ending assistance rendered by organisations like Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network, Community Development Initiative, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Kutubu LLG, Lake Kutubu Environment Foundation, Tubo Lodge Enterprise Limited, Nipa Kutubu Council of Women, Mt Bosavi Eco-Tourism and Piku Biodiversity Network has made the festival reach greater heights.’’ Irimaru adds that for people like Vaclav Pistora that travelled from the other side of the world to see for himself the authentic cultural fiesta is a blessing to them. He hopes Pistora’s experience for the past two years will open pathways for more tourists to come from Europe.
For Pistora, the experience is second to none and the Czech citizen plans to attend the festival again in coming years. The 2019 Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival was held from Sept 19 to 21 at Daga Village and Lake Kutubu respectively.

• Kevin Dayonga is a communications volunteer with the Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival.