Seminars focus on aspects of sorcery

 By SONIA KENU 

THE National Museum and Art Gallery will run two seminars on Thursday to discuss the anthropological and philosophical aspects of sorcery in PNG. The event will mark the international Museum Day.  

A statement from the office of National Museum and Art Gallery said the day fell on May 18 but the celebrations were postponed to May 23. 

The theme is “Memory + Creativity = Social Change”. It was localised to focus on the pressing issue of sorcery. 

Director Dr Andrew Moutu said the international theme was consistent with the institutional role which archival institutions such as museums, archives and libraries strove to preserve and maintain national memories.

“The seminars will address how sorcery is pressing on the current law and how sorcery-related allegations have become a focal concern,” he said. 

“The first lecture titled ‘Old scourge and modern menace’ provides an anthropological understanding of sorcery. The second titled ‘Sorcery and the colour of morality” focuses on the philosophical changes that underpin legal attempts to arrest the problem.”

Both seminars will be held at the Sir Alan Mann Gallery. The first session is at 10am and the second 1.30pm.