By Fabian Hakalits – EMTV News, Arawa
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville is home to the music industry that has attracted many youths.
Zambia’s music artist, Afunika, says many PNG youths have ventured into music, that has to be marketed and promoted internationally.
Afunika may not be popular by name and face but his songs have already become favourites to music lovers in Papua New Guinea.
His real name is Frank Chirwa and comes from Zambia, a country on the African continent.
Afunika is the first international musician to tour the Autonomous Region of Bougainville since the civil war and has called it his home.
“Bougainville is like a home to me. I was given a rousing welcome at Aropa, which just reopened and once an international airport. People were so friendly and that we had the same skin colour. So I think it was not a mistake, easy to communicate, because we share some things in common. I felt home.”
Afunika’s tour was made possible through Sapience Entertainment.
According to promoter, Francis Sakala, Sapience has been trying to promote musicians of PNG overseas.
Sakala said that the recent trip to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was a blessing for him and Afunika, because they were able to visit the then North Solomon’s Province, that housed the once worlds largest open cut mine, that went through a civil war.
“We are so pleased, we share some things in common, skin colour and we felt at home for our brothers and sisters,” Sakala said.
Afunika’s tour is an eye opener to music lovers as described by a Bougainvillean.
Dennis Kikira told EMTV News that it was great to have someone from overseas visit Bougainville and experience the place.
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