Arts festival village commissioned

Caption:  (R) Minister Kondra presenting foodstuff to a representative of the Gogodala builders. 

Caption:  Waliwali house a traditional Gogodala house from the Western Province.

Caption:  A ‘hausman’ (male house) from the Ambelam Society of Maprik East Sepik Province.

Caption:  Section of the festival village.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, June 15, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

IN a ceremony based on customary respect and protocol, the festival village of the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts was finally commissioned by the Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture Boka Kondra.

After close to three months of building- artisans from the respective groups who had worked around the clock complete their respective structures, and the ceremony was for the official handover from the builders to the National Cultural Commission (NCC). 

The impressive village boasts traditional houses from around the country, and specials homes built for the four regions of the country- Highlands, Islands, Momase, and Southern.

In his opening address, Minister Kondra said that the construction of facilities for the festival were in their final stages, adding that most of buildings were completed a month in advance of the commissioning.   

“All provincial houses have been completed, with the regional houses being completed just this week,” Minister Kondra said.

“The four satellite venues around the country in Alotau, Kokopo, Wewak, and Mt Hagan are completing their final touches.”

“After this commissioning- the village will be open to members of the public and the media to visit it in preparation for the festival opening on June 28.”

Traditional builders from as far as East Sepik, up to the Southern Highlands, down to the Western Province, and across the seas to the island provinces.

Chairman of the festival and the Acting Executive Director of NCC, Dr Jacob Simet reminded those present that building the village was not an easy task, in terms of the materials required and the logistics involved.

He pointed out that the buildings were not just dwellings for occupants, but are physical representations of uniqueness of each culture represented.

“These are not dwellings- they are customary houses, and all have their rules and regulations,” Dr Simet said.

“It is a cultural festival, which is why we must follow cultural protocol and traditionally thank the builders.”

All groups received garden produce, and a pig to symbolize the official handover of their buildings to the care of the cultural commission.

The minister also announced that the village would remain as an exhibit under the National Museum and Art Gallery after the completion of the festival.