Papua New Guinea, a home to a thousand tribes and cultures, has seen and gone through a lot of changes in terms of modernization and adapting to the Western culture.
However, many Papua New Guineans still stand firm to their traditional beliefs and culture and as a result, the PNG Music Foundation plans to bring about empowering the Music Industry especially contemporary and traditional cultural music.
Being the first of its kind for this year, the PNG Music Foundation hosted a PNG Contemporary Ethno and Folklore Music Festival to bring about promoting culture through traditional songs and dances.
Founder of PNG Music Foundation, Mr. Samson Sala said that the foundation has been hosting and organizing several festivals internationally and in the pacific and this year, they continue that path by creating more festivals such as this one.
“This festival is mainly aimed for contemporary tumbuna songs. We as a Foundation promote culture but we don’t really portray tumbuna songs and so we decided to focus more on this for the sake of our upcoming generation.”
The first of its kind festival had 30 group performances portraying a variety of unique dances and singsing representing the different provinces.
“Tumbuna songs have meanings in all aspects of culture especially during special occasions such as haus krai, bride price, initiations and other important cultural events.” Samson expressed the importance of songs as a way of bringing peace and that it is the power of culture which sadly is slowly dying. “We are not strengthening our culture that God gave to us. It’s the backbone of our life. We should keep holding onto it and promote it every day.”
“Therefore, it is important we host such events like this so that our generation does not grow up without knowing or inheriting their culture.”
The theme of the event is, “PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH OUR TUMBUNA SONGS AND CULTURE”, and has already seen a good number of singsing groups who came forward to present in their respective traditional songs and dances.
“We must live in peace which is portrayed in our different cultural songs.”
“”We see violence happening everywhere and its concerning to see that it is increasing. Therefore, it is important that we stimulate more cultural songs until our people are well adapted and becomes a norm.”
Samson has further acknowledged sponsor, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority for the support in empowering such events.
“The foundation is also looking forward in bringing in more talents which can also create more employment opportunities.”
He added, “The foundation is now working towards making this event way for youths to be part of and for the event to be hosted at least twice a year.”