The traditional art of making fire was one ofthe many displays atthe Melanesia Week exhibition held in Port Moresby overthe weekend.
Jasimo Karoge fromthe Lufa District in Eastern Highlands is an expert at this.
Jasimo demonstrated how it’s done and why he believes this method will survive.
The exhibition held yesterday atthe Sir John Guise stadium was filled with colors of traditional ornaments including baskets and bilums, wooden carvings and sculptures, andthenthere were body ornaments and modern contemporary fine arts. There were traditional dances and music too.
Bet a rare attraction was of fire-making exhibitor Jasimo Karoge fromthe Lufa district inthe Eastern Highlands Province. He demonstrated that friction based fire making goes back generations and it was not for the faint of heart. All that was needed were a dry twigs, leaves, grass and betelnut husk…all from nature.
He was confident that many Melanesian traditional day-to-day skills will survive because oftheir necessity andthe high cost of today'’s modern goods and services.
