Kutubu Kundu festival gets funding boost of K50,000

Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) is throwing its support behind the annual Kutubu Kundu and Digaso festival with a K50,000 donation.
This was done in an effort to help restore normalcy to the lives of the Kutubu people after the devastating earthquake in February this year.
This will be the festival’s eighth year running.
The local hosts are determined to make it happen despite the damage and devastation they suffered.
Daga village where the festival is hosted lost its traditional Kutubu Long haus, which is one of the star attractions at this festival, along with many homes in the earthquake.
Despite setbacks, locals with the help of the festival organising committee have rebuilt the long haus and their homes to prepare to host the event and its visitors.
This year’s festival will be held from Sept 21-23 with the theme, ‘Yumi mas kirapim bek yumi yet (We must raise ourselves)’.
It calls for all earthquake-affected communities to come together and strive for restoration and resiliency after the earthquake.
Managing-director of MRDC Augustine Mano, in presenting K50,000 to the festival committee, said MRDC was very proud to support the festival this year in particular as it was a special one.
“This year’s festival only goes to show the resilience of our people, who have suffered the devastating impact of an earthquake, yet have the strength and courage to pick themselves up, to restore their lives just six months since the quake hit,” he said.
Mano commended the committee and the people of Kutubu, for their determination to host and share their culture and heritage to visitors to the festival, despite their losses.
“Mineral Resources Development Company has been with the people through the devastation of the quake, assisting and providing relief food, water and medical aid to the people,” he said.
“By supporting the festival, we want to help bring normalcy to their lives.”
The festival is a cultural fiesta celebrating more than 40 different indigenous cultures who come together to celebrate the importance of the kundu drum and the trade of the Digaso oil in the traditional culture of the Kutubu people.
It plays a vital role in safeguarding traditional practices and the diverse bio-diversity of the Lake Kutubu region.