Panpipe sounds draw them out

MUSIC

A group from Nomane in Chimbu would have remained isolated from the outside world but thanks to a new skill, they are now venturing out of their hamlets

By BEVERLY PETER
YOUNG men from the remotest part of Chimbu in between the rugged mountains separating Salt from Karimui made it to one of the biggest shows in the country last year with their bamboo pan flutes.
The group of 17 men and boys from Nokul village, Nomane, in Karimnui-Nomane, Chimbu were invited to the three-day show at Walume in Imbongu, Southern Highlands from Sept 14 to 16, to perform the national anthem and other songs with their bamboo pan pipes.
They can play any song with panpipes as long as they hear it more than once. And they amazed the crowd at the show with their talent.
The leader of the group Peter Kamis said playing the pan flute they made from bamboo pipes had given them the opportunity they never thought they could ever have experienced.
“The smile on the boys’ faces when travelling up the Highlands Highway and the glee when they shook hands with MPs during the show gave me the satisfaction and motivation to take them further to new places.
“The surprise on their faces when travelling up the road ached my heart and make me realise how confined, closed and way back we are.
“It makes my heart ache more for not being exposed to many opportunities and to the changes in the country,” Kamis said.
You don’t know the little things you do at your backyard can take you to places and meet people you never thought you would.
Some of these boys have never been to Kundiawa town or any town other than their village.
Coming to Kundiawa town, passing through Mt Hagen city to get to Walum was eye-opening for them.
Kamis said the trip to Walum was the second time he and his brother Joshua Fene took the group to Southern Highlands as the first time was for a pastor’s conference at Kaupena in 2007.
He said most of the boys took part in 2007 left the group because they were married and had family obligations to attend to.
“Though they left, we continued to teach our own children and the upcoming ones as this was something unique of us and worth keeping in the generation,” said Kamis.
Since they were from the remote part of the province and with the difficult road conditions, about 75 per cent of the population in Nomane have never been to the nearest town (Kundiawa).
Kamis and Fene saw that playing the bamboo pan flute could at least provide an opportunity to get those kids out to see the outside world and encouraged the young ones to hold on to it.
The initiative of playing songs on the bamboo pan flute came about more than 20 years ago when Kamis and Fene’s grandfather went to the village on the other side of the Waghi river towards Karimui by foot to trade with people there.
They usually brought clothes some store food to exchange with the villagers for what they hunted such as wild pigs, cassowaries and cuscus.
In one of their visits, they saw some old men playing songs on four bamboo pan flutes.
On their way back, they cut some of the bamboo pipes, and brought them home and taught Kamis and Fine.
Kamis and Fine became very interested and thought themselves to play more songs and almost all the songs they sang in the church at that time.
They gathered other young boys at the village and taught them how to play and they have eventually increased the number of bamboo pipes from four to 18.
To make the instrument different sizes of bamboo pipes were cut and tied together from the largest to smallest with bush ropes.
The musicians’ attire is made from the bark of a tree.
They volunteered to play especially at church openings and shows. People were amazed at how they played and invited them to play in several shows mainly to escort guests onto the arenas or podiums especially at school openings
The group started by playing at the local church events, then to district church openings and eventually to shows and special occasions in the area.
They have been to Goroka Show twice and once in Kundiwa.
Kamis said, “though we are unable to afford to take our children and the young ones out to town, playing the bamboo pan flute makes the way for us. I am happy to lead the team out to perform.
“We don’t have any specific charges as long as those who invite us provide transport, food, accommodation and some cash for, that is good enough for us. We love to travel and to perform.”
Since they started getting invites to perform, the group has practised tight rope walking too. They tie canes or vines between two poles about six meters apart and several meters above ground for individual members to walk on them.
After their travel to Walum, word spread and many new members have joined the group in rehearsals for any future invitations to perform or showcase their skills.