PNG contingent welcomed to Port Vila

PAPUA New Guinea’s arts and cultural contingent arrived in Port Vila, Vanuatu on Saturday to a rousing welcome by the PNG community there.
A total of 105 cultural ambassadors was led by Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Isi Henry Leonard to the seventh Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival.

Leonard was accompanied by the deputy chairman of the National Cultural Commission board Prof Leo Marai, board member Dr Michael Mel, National Cultural Commission (NCC) executive director Steven Enomb Kilanda and the chief executive officer of the Tourism Promotion Authority Eric Mossman Uvovo.
Leonard told reporters at Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby that he was grateful to the Government for realising the importance of the arts and culture sector in the country and subsequently releasing funds to take a few Papua New Guinea’s traditional dancers, artists, musicians and creative performers to Vanuatu to showcase PNG’s diverse cultural heritage.
Leonard thanked the governors and provincial administrations for supporting their provincial cultural groups to attend the festival – Hela, West New Britain and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville among them.
Apart from the traditional dancers, creative arts students from the University of Papua New Guinea, musicians and artists are also participating at the festival.
It is understood PNG’s arts and cultural contingent could not attend the opening ceremony on July 19 on time due to financial issues, but Leonard said he was excited that he was able to take a contingent to Vanuatu.
He said PNG’s presence, as a Melanesian nation, at such an event was important in all fronts of politics, economy and social dictates.
“Such events demand all Melanesians to come together to showcase our identity. We must stand out and speak up,” he said.

Vanuatu chiefs receive pigs from PNG cultural group

THE Papua New Guinean cultural contingent in Vanuatu presented three pigs to the Council of Chiefs of Vanuatu on Monday before taking to stage to showcase its rich, diverse and unique cultural heritage.
The ceremony was conducted in a true Melanesian spirit as a gesture of goodwill as Melanesian Island states coming together to participate and celebrate the 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival currently underway in Port Vila.
Tourism Arts and Culture Minister Isi Henry Leonard led the goodwill ceremony accompanied by National Cultural Commission board members Prof Leo Marai and Dr Michael Mel, PNG’s Honourary Consul, Eileen Nganga and National Cultural Council executive director Steven Enomb Kilanda.
Leonard presented three pigs to the chiefs as a token of appreciation to reciprocate a similar presentation by the chiefs to the Government and the people of PNG during the official opening on July 19.
The gifts from the chiefs were received by Nganga and the PNG community in Vanuatu on behalf of the PNG contingent which could not arrive on time for the exchange of gifts.

PNG displays vibrant performance in Vanuatu

PAPUA New Guinea cultural ambassadors in Vanuatu on Monday unleashed a vibrant preview of what will be showcased in the coming days at the 7th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival in Port Vila.
The performers lured and awed a huge crowd at the Saralana festival ground soon after a traditional goodwill ceremony performed by the PNG head of delegation and the members of the Council of Chiefs from the Torba province of Vanuatu.
Tourism Arts and Culture Minister Isi Henry Leonard presented three pigs to the chiefs as a token of appreciation to reciprocate a similar presentation by the chiefs to the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea during the official opening on July 19.
The gifts were received by the PNG community in Vanuatu on behalf of the PNG contingent that could not arrive on time for the exchange of gifts.
The exchange of gifts signifies goodwill and friendship in the true spirit of the Melanesian culture.
Arts and cultural representatives from the Melanesian Island states, including the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea are currently in Port Vila, Vanuatu, celebrating and showcasing their respective cultural heritage at the festival in Port
Vila.
On Monday, a sizable but orderly crowd swelled at the Saralana show ground as the Bougainvilleans teased the show-goers with the beat of the bamboo band and female dancers followed by a contemporary medley of dance patterns and beats from the four regions of PNG by the creative arts students from the University of PNG.
Prior to that, PNG’s Weimog Rock band set the pace and the mood with popular PNG songs at the seafront not far from the main Saralana arena.
The drizzle did not dampen the spirit of the crowd but boosted it instead into cheers and claps.