Willy’s hymbie drums a hit on market

The National People

By SCHOLAR KASSAS
EAST Sepik native Willy Arek, 51, believes that many people can earn a living from making use of cultural artefacts which are in abundance around them.
It is why he left his accounting job 12 years ago to sell Garamut drums which his district is well known for.
“I use my (accounting) background. Foremost, when you’re selling things, you must have a very good knowledge of your product.”
Willy, a father-of-one is from Kirimbit village in Chambri Lakes, East Sepik. He completed Grade Six at St Mary’s Primary School in East Sepik in 1984, before attending St Xavier High School where he completed Grade Eight in 1986. Then he attended Fode to complete grades 9 and 10.
In 1997, he enrolled at the Institute of Business Studies where he received a Certificate in Accounting.
Around that time, his uncle living in Port Moresby told him about their cultural craft. So Willy became interested in the Garamut drum, known as hymbie in Chambri dialect.
He was surprised at how quickly people started showing interest in the Garamut drum and its unique history.

“ I worked in various companies and realised that the fortnight pay I received was less than what I was making from selling cultural artefacts. It motivated me to quit my job in 2010 to concentrate on selling drums.”
Willy Arek with customer Hazel Laing at the craft market in Port Moresby. – Nationalpic by SCHOLAR KASSAS

In 1999, Willy put everything on hold to complete a diploma in accounting course at the International Training Institute. In 2000, he started working for a company as an accounts clerk.
He maintained his interest in selling drums, which caught the attention of expatriates in his workplace.
“I worked in various companies and realised that the fortnight pay I received was less than what I was making from selling cultural artefacts. It motivated me to quit my job in 2010 to concentrate on selling drums.”
Of course, he is in competition with others selling the same Garamut. So he had to change his marketing strategy to attract customers by telling them, especially expatriates, the cultural significance of the drum.
He attracts customers who want to know the true story behind the hymbie drum which he sells at K50 each.
Customer Hazel Laing, who bought a hymbie drum from Willy at a craft market in Port Moresby, told of how the story and the sound of the drum touched her.
Willy sells at least two during a craft market day. He can make up to six drums a week and does his own designs and paintings on them.
The drums are carved out of milky pine, rose wood, hard wood and other trees.
Willy plans to write a book and is doing a documentary on the Garamut drum from his Chambri Lake village.
Now Willy is earning a living from it, doing his own thing and becoming his own boss instead of working for other people.
Many visitors from other countries have bought the drum to take back home as a souvenir not fully understanding its cultural significance to Willy and his people.