The count down to the 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture festival continues, with less than 30 days to go.
Selected Cultural groups are making their way to the capital. One such group consists of 35 men from Balimo in Western Province.
They’ve been constructing the iconic “Long House”, a traditional house that died out after European contact.
This is the first time for the structure to be built outside of the province. The grounds where the 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture festival will be held, is here at Waigani, located opposite the National Museum and Parliament house.
Over a dozen stalls made from bush material have already been set up, including the Sepiks haus tambaran. But nothing comes close to spectacular then what you are about to see.
This is the Long house from Balimo in the Middle Fly District of the Western Province. No doubt this will be the major attraction at this year’s Melanesian, Arts and Culture festival.
Right now I’m standing at the entrance to the men’s quarters which is at the Centre of this master piece.
Traditionally, its taboo for women and children to enter but since this is all for the show, I’ve been allowed special access.
It’s a taste of the Gogodala culture in the Nation’s Capital, all the building material was shipped here from the Western Province.
Thirty five men have been hard at work constructing the ancient structure. The long house is traditionally built several meters off the ground because of it’s proximity to the Fly River.
It can house up to 27 people, women and children have separate sleeping quarters, on either side of the building, leaving the centre for the men.
Elder, Ken Kebali Abilo, has been instrumental in ensuring the long house is built in accordance to traditional norms. After European contact, the Long house died out, but in recent times it’s made a comeback.
While construction work for the whole project continues, we couldn’t help but notice an over powering foul stench coming from the drain. A problem that needs to be rectified before show time.
The festival will be held for two weeks starting from the 28th of June to the 11th of July.
The festival is hosted every four years by selected member countries of the Melanesian Spear head group. The MSG is made up of New Caladonia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and PNG.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=AVu0AEyQI14%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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