Sanguma to perform live

 By JOE IVAHARIA

LIVE performances by Papua New Guinean legendary band Sanguma will be a highlight of Australia Week celebrations in Port Moresby this 

week.

Australia Week kicks off today and ends next Tuesday with celebrations planned by the Australian High Commission.

Sanguma, which is Tok Pisin for spirit man, will be playing alongside an Australian funk rock band Bending Rodriguez at the Lamana Hotel’s Gold Club tomorrow.

The band may also perform for the public at the University of PNG and the Ela Beach amphi-theatre, AHC first secretary Tim Bryson said. 

A founding member of the band, Sebastian Miyoni, said that Sanguma would continue to share and strengthen its relationship through music with Australia.

Current band members include Miyoni, Paul Yabo, Aaron Murray, Thomas Komboi and Raymond Hakena. Another founding member Tony Subam died in 2011.

The band was formed at the National Arts School in the late 1970s and was fondly remembered as an upbeat contemporary musical outfit. 

At a time when nationalism was enjoying unprecedented hype, Sanguma gained a huge following throughout the country with its unique blend of traditional and modern music.