By Vicky Baunke in Goroka EHP
THE Famous Goroka Bilum Festival has signed a Memorandum of agreement with the Alekano Zagusave Voice Incorporation that will see 10 percent of the Bilum festival revenue go into the association.
The MOA was signed by Bilum Festival Director Florence Kamel and the executives of the Alekano Zagusave Voice Incorporation last Thursday at the New Channel Inn Hotel in Goroka.
Kamel said since the hosting of the Bilum festival in 2009 it has faced an immense challenge to secure a market place for Bilums in the country and internationally to benefit over a thousand women.
She said 16 years on from the first Bilum festival in 2009 which begun with only K5, there are now 54 stores for bilum throughout the world.
Kamel who also hails from the Kotuni village of the Gahuku said this is an investment for the future generation to uphold the identity and pride of the traditional cultures.
She said the bilum weaving skill is a traditional art passed down from generations with the aim to keep the traditional knowledge alive. The idea coincides with the visions of the Alekano Zagusave Voice Incorporation goals work plans.
She said this was part of investing into the umbrella group that represented the Voice of the Gahuku people and as an investment into the future generations.
Moni-Plus Managing Director Aho Baliki who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Alekano Zagusave Voice Incorporation also claimed the naming rights of the famous Goroka Bilum Festival.
Baliki said the Bilum festival has helped a lot of women in the district and throughout the province and placed the traditional bilum weaving art at the international level.
He said the festival has promoted the traditional weaving skill art and placed bilum at the international market thanks to the Bilum festival and also generates income for many women throughout the country.
