Document culture, says student

If we do not document our culture through songs, books or plays our culture dies, 16-year-old student-actor and playwriter Andrew Kuliniasi says.
“Being from Milne Bay makes me proud. It’s a collection of traditions and stories as well as customs and the whole ‘size 28’ thing that’s so rich and vibrant and I feel the same way towards being Papua New Guinean,” Kuliniasi said.
“And if we do not share this culture with others, it dies and that’s scary. There won’t be anything unique about us.”
Kuliniasi, who wrote a few plays and took part in a number of productions staged by the Moresby Arts Theater (MAT) in the National Capital District, made the comments after going through rehearsals for his new play called Meisoga.
The play which will be staged next month portrays cultural taboos, interfamilial marriage, witchcraft, and inter-tribal bloodshed.
“Meisoga means sea eagle and it is the name of a clan on Misima Island. The play itself it set in a time before missionaries came to Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“The play itself contains a lot of conflict. It’s a story about survival and what people do to survive and how it changes them.
“There is a lot of spear fighting and inner conflict within characters as well.” He credits his grandparents for his upbringing and knowledge of his culture.
“I thank God everyday that my grandparents are still alive because they know more about these things and don’t hesitate to share or lecture us about it,” Kuliniasi said.
“Because of this I learned a lot of traditional practices and values.”
He also added that Papua New Guinea still has a lot to offer in terms of writing, song books and plays about culture.
Kuliniasi said the country has more than 800 languages and that means we have thousands of culture which can be documented.
“We cant do nothing to see our cultures dyting out gradually,” he said.
“It was better Papua New Guineans must started documenting their cultures and traditions before they die out.”