The inaugural Central Music Festival (CMF), taking place from today May 24th to the 26th, is poised to deliver significant economic and social benefits to Central Province, specifically to the Rigo District.
This groundbreaking event, organized with the support of the National Cultural Commission (NCC), will not only showcase local talent and culture, but also stimulate the local economy and foster community development.
Allen Kedea, President of the Central Music Festival, emphasized the uniqueness and importance of the event.
“In Central, it is definitely the first. And I think nationally we have not had a provincial music festival yet,” he said.
The festival will feature 54 artists performing over the three days, along with 60 SME stalls comprising 40 local and 20 corporate businesses.
One of the key benefits of the festival is its potential to boost the local economy.
Kedea explained, “Locally, it brings about business for our local people to help with the groundwork, to help with the preparations.”
“The festival has engaged local workers for construction and setup, including building SME stalls, toilets, and fencing, thereby injecting money directly into the community. In addition to providing employment opportunities, the festival offers a platform for local entrepreneurs, especially women.”
“We’re also including all the SME mamas and the ladies to come and sell their goods so that they can also benefit from the three days and make as much money as they can,” Kedea noted.
The stall fee is a nominal K100 for the three days, and vendors keep all their profits.
The festival also aims to promote agro-tourism and music tourism, attracting visitors from Port Moresby and beyond.
“We want to take some of that money and spread it around our central province as well and bring the kina and bring people out to experience the province as well,” Kedea said.
This influx of visitors has already resulted in all local accommodations being fully booked, demonstrating the immediate economic impact.
Tourism generated by the festival is expected to have lasting benefits.
Kedea highlighted the potential for long-term developments, “It begins to change their mindset in terms of allowing them to think outside the box. What else can they do? Can they do construction of a lodge? Or if you’re smaller than that, maybe some people will look at things like home-stay.”
The festival also fosters cultural pride and community spirit.
Residents of Port Moresby and surrounding districts have the opportunity to experience the unique culture of Central Province.
Kedea expressed hope that the festival would become an annual event, furthering these benefits, “If this event is successful, and we are hoping that it will be, what we are then hoping is that it will become an annual event. And then it’s not going to be a one-off.”
Such continuity would allow for more sustainable development and partnerships, reducing reliance on government funding.
“We hope to build more business partnerships and sponsorship so we don’t rely on taxpayers’ money. We are conscious that this is government money and it’s the people’s money. So, we have to give back to the people and the people must benefit from this,” Kedea stated.
The festival showcases local talent, stimulates economic growth, and promotes cultural tourism, all while promoting a sense of unity and pride among the people of Central Province.