Music festival launched

THE art of music is strong among the young but only a few find the opportunity or access to excel, be it traditional or contemporary music, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Isi Henry Leonard says.
“Protecting, promoting and developing their potential and talent require massive and collective efforts from all sectors,” he said.
Speaking at the launch of the Namatanai Music Festival to promote traditional music among youths in Papua New Guinea last Thursday, Leonard said music festivals provided the platform to expose hidden talents and skills in the creative arts and music industry.
“PNG music is equally diverse as its culture, language, traditions and customs,” he said.
Leonard thanked Namatanai MP Schnaubelt for committing K150,000 from the district development authority funds to support the festival.
He committed K20,000 to the festival which will be held in October.
Schnaubelt said the festival was timely and important to nurture and harness traditional music.
“This is also an opportunity to digitise our traditional music through recordings,” he said.
Festival chairman Jude Nongkas said his committee had, for 15 years, planned to host such a festival backed by the National Cultural Commission.