Monday 10 June 2019

Rabaul’s Mask Festival is extraordinary in 2019


By PETER S. KINJAP | The NATIONAL Newspaper - Weekender Edition. 

The National Mask & Warwagira Festival is an annual event taking place in East New Britain where the local tribes gather to display their traditional attires and dances.

The festival starts at dawn on the beach with the Kinavai ceremony, when the mysterious and feared Dukduk and Tubuan arrive on canoes from their villages accompanied by chanting and beating of drums.

American tourists Brenda and Monty with the Agarere mask dancers from Turaguna, East New Britain. Photo supplied.
  Kinavai ceremony is spiritually important for the local Tolai people, who are reportedly migrated to East New Britain from Namatanai in New Ireland Province.

The ceremony signifies their landing on the shores of East New Britain Province.

Impressively looking men in red laplap, standing out from the crowd, would leisurely walk around the grass-built huts selling refreshments, food, and craft.

These men are from the Tumbuan, a Duk-Duk secret society, which is part of the traditional culture of the Tolai people. For the occasion of the ritual dances, they invoke the male spirit Duk-Duk and female spirit Tumbuan, depending on the masks they wear. Although some dancers act as female spirits, the dances are only performed by men.

The National Mask Festival usually has a programme to follow, from the start to the end.

Crowded with the dancers wearing colourful traditional attire, intricately decorated masks and spectacular headdresses, the show ground is full of fun and relish.

Baining Fire dance at the Natioal Mask Festival
 The dances are accompanied by the beating of kundu, lizard-skin drums commonly used in Papua New Guinea. Each tribe has its own unique dancing style, music, traditional costumes, and bilas, or body decoration in local Tok Pisin language. It seems that the imagination by Papua New Guineans has no limits.

Amongst colourfully dressed dancers, the iconic Tumbuan emerge with their famous conical masks. Both male Duk-Duk and female Tumbuan masks are cone-shaped but Duk-Duk ones are taller. With the round balls of grass leaves under the masks, only legs of the dancers are visible.

The Papua New Guinea National Mask Festival held in July every year, is an extravaganza of cultural dancing, ritual performance, story-telling and exchange - with a variety of arts and crafts on display at the show ground.

In action. The Tubuans ready for the stage
 The National Mask Festival brings together traditional sing-sing groups from around Papua New Guinea, with a variety of cultures and spectacular display of elaborate masks reflecting the diverse cultures and traditions and the 840 plus different languages spoken throughout the country.

The event is quite extraordinary as it is a little different to the other cultural festivals in the country.

It focused on displaying the different traditional masks, their purposes and believes associated. Papua New Guinea is known for its unique cultures and traditions and as such, the masks contributed a lot to this.

The extraordinary Sulka Double Headed Mask. Photo supplied.
 Masks were created in different styles, sizes and shapes, which represented different believes and the areas they represented. Most of these masks are from the coastal region and the lowlands of Papua New Guinea where traditional magic and sorcery were very common. The mask festival represents this with the venue and the traditional groups participating fulfill this.

Katie and Joanne from our Intrepid Travel group with the Agarere mask dancers from Turaguna, East New Britain.
 The mask festival includes groups from the New Guinea Islands, which includes Rabaul, Kavieng, and Buka, and to the North coast, which includes Madang, Wewak and the lowlands of both provinces. As colorful as the other cultural events, the mask festival displays the true tradition of the people of Papua New Guinea.

The look of the masks reflects the power and strength of traditional believes and the masks were greatly honored as they represented the presences of the spirits which gave power and knowledge to perform their traditional rituals, sorcery etc.

You are cordially invited to this unique festival in July 2019. It’s very traditional, very emotional and the performances cannot be seen at other cultural festivals. This is a scarcer and it is displayed only once and is by all means protected by customary laws and can only be displayed in certain locations and it has to be on the coast.

Kinavai - arrival of the tumbuan dukduks
 It is a great pleasure to also invite you to this unique event. Not only you will participate in this festival but also the venue has steaming active volcanoes and is the place where it was a major battlefield over the pacific campaign during the WWII.

The scenery, the people and the natural environment is very welcoming and you feel and experience of the Tolai people and their cultures.

 Come and join us to an experience this special event that you will not witness anywhere else in the world, an event that is very traditional. The below proposed tour packages have been specially designed to coincides with this event and give you the opportunity to witness this event.

Rabaul’s deserved title “The Pearl of the Pacific” has been substituted with “Pompeii of the Pacific” after Mother Nature unleashed its destructive forces via the volcano named Tavurvur in 1994.

Mask dancers getting ready for the show
 Rabaul ("mangrove swamp") was claimed by the German government in 1884 as the administrative-centre-to-be for German New Guinea.

Rabaul town quickly flourished when Kokopo (Herbertshöhe) was no longer considered suitable as an administrative centre.

Under German rule, Rabaul boasted a botanical garden, hotels, casino, extensive wharves, shops, and government buildings. A sizable Chinese community occupied Rabaul, and they contributed greatly to the development of Rabaul in many ways.

Participants of the National Mask Festival
Australian governance then prevailed in Rabaul from 1914- 1942. Rabaul continued to thrive as the capital of Australian mandated New Guinea until 1937 when volcanic forces caused the planned relocation of Australian administration to Lae.

However by 1937, the Japanese government had other ideas for Rabaul, and invaded this town in January 1942. The Australian defence group known as “Lark Force” was routed by the Japanese. Under Japanese occupation Rabaul emerged as Japan’s largest base in the South West Pacific in WW2.

Mask Dancers ready for the show
  Approximately 110,000 Japanese military garrisoned at Rabaul, supported by the Japanese air force and navy.

After WW2, Australia resumed administration of PNG including Rabaul. Despite the destruction of Rabaul by volcanic activity and intensive Allied bombing in WW2, Rabaul was rebuilt quickly as a strong commercial centre and beautiful township.

The eruption in 1994 witnessed the destruction and disintegration of Rabaul’s beauty and status. Despite this loss Rabaul still presents an allure and fascination for those who visit the area.

When you are in Rabaul next, you are not only privileged to see the National Mask Festival but also the Kinavai Festival, Baining Fire Dance, Kokopo market, Japanese Barge Tunnel, Bitapaka War Cemetery, Rabaul Volcano Observatory, Hot Springs (closest spot to the active Mt Tavurvur Volcano) and the Duke of York Island.

National Mask Festival participants sing and dance
 Surely enough your day might start with early bird preparation, getting ready for the dawn opening of the Warwagira & Mask Festival welcoming the Tumbuans paddling on the canoe from their villages to open the Mask Festival, fiery masks worn by elder men and initiated boys towards the Festival area with the beating of the Kundu drums.

In the evening, you would take on the evening's spectacle – the world-renowned Baining Fire Dance.
The Baining Fire Dance is only performed by men from the Bainings clans, where they immerse themselves into the flames of the fire and escape the fire unharmed. 

The Bainings clan is one of few cultures in PNG which do not use the Kundu drum as their rhythmic percussion instruments.

National Mask Festival Rabaul performers in action
 They instead, use bamboo and the sound is just as unique as the fire dance itself. This is an exciting and unique ritual, which is not performed anywhere else in the world!

To find out about the confirmed festival dates and for an arranged exotic tours around Rabaul and Kokopo, email the following: pngattractions@gmail.com 

·         Peter S. Kinjap is a freelance writer and a blogger, email: pekinjap@gmail.com
 
National Mask Festival Rabaul dancers pose for a photo


15 comments:

  1. Do you need a personal loan?
    Do you need a loan to pay bills/finance your business?
    Do you need a mortgage loan? email: stevenryanfinance@gmail.com or whatsapp : +971529615981

    ReplyDelete
  2. ALL LOAN SERVICES AVAILABLE

    Commercial Loans
    Personal Loans
    Business Loans
    Investments Loans
    Development Loans
    Acquisition Loans
    Construction loans
    Business Loans And many More:

    Contact Us At : financierlibertycapitals@gmail.com
    Mrs Kayla Abubaker

    ReplyDelete
  3. HALO


    Apakah Anda seorang pengusaha atau pegawai pemerintah, dan Anda ingin mandiri secara finansial dan mengembangkan bisnis Anda, ini adalah kesempatan Anda, kami menyediakan semua jenis pinjaman jangka panjang dan pendek, proses kami sangat sederhana dan mudah. Anda tidak harus terus bertanggung jawab secara finansial kepada semua orang, hari ini Anda dapat memutuskan bahwa Anda memiliki kebebasan finansial dan kehidupan yang lebih baik untuk Anda dan keluarga Anda, kami siap memberikan Anda pinjaman apa pun yang Anda butuhkan, Kami akan memberikan Anda. Jangan merasa ingin melihat seseorang sukses secara finansial jika Anda ingin pinjaman Anda ditambahkan ke ekuitas Anda atau memulai bisnis Anda sendiri, ini adalah kesempatan Anda untuk menghubungi kami hari ini.



    Perusahaan: CREDIT FINANCIAL GROUP
    Email: (creditfinancialgroup01@gmail.com)
    Whatsapp: +447480724786.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Do you need Finance?
    Are you looking for Finance?
    Are you looking for a money to enlarge your business?
    We help individuals and companies to obtain loan for business
    expanding and to setup a new business ranging any amount. Get a loan at affordable interest rate of 3%, Do you need this cash/loan for business and to clear your bills? Then send us an email now for more information contact us now via Email financialserviceoffer876@gmail.com Whats App +918929509036

    ReplyDelete
  5. HOW I GOT MY LOAN FROM THIS GREAT COMPANY

    Hello my dear people, I am Linda McDonald, currently living in Austin Texas, USA. I am a widow at the moment with three kids and i was stuck in a financial situation in April 2018 and i needed to refinance and pay my bills. I tried seeking loans from various loan firms both private and corporate but never with success, and most banks declined my credit ,do not full prey to those hoodlums at there that call them self-money lender they are all scam , all they want is your money and you well not hear from them again they have done it to me twice before I met Mr. David Wilson the most interesting part of it is that my loan was transfer to me within 74hours so I will advise you to contact Mr. David if you are interested in getting loan and you are sure you can pay him back on time you can contact him via email……… (davidwilsonloancompany4@gmail.com) No credit check, no cosigner with just 2% interest rate and better repayment plans and schedule if you must contact any firm with reference to securing a loan without collateral then contact Mr. David Wilson today for your loan

    They offer all kind of categories of loan they

    Short term loan (5_10years)
    Long term loan (20_40)
    Media term loan (10_20)
    They offer loan like
    Home loan............., Business loan........ Debt loan.......
    Student loan.........., Business startup loan
    Business loan......., Company loan.............. etc
    Email..........( davidwilsonloancompany4@gmail.com)
    When it comes to financial crisis and loan then David Wilson loan financial is the place to go please just tell him I Mrs. Linda McDonald direct you Good Luck.......................

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nyonya Najwa Mohamed
    Saya tinggal di Depok Indonesia
    Hibah Pinjaman BCA Rp200.000.000
    najwamohamedh@gmail.com

    Nama saya Mrs. Najwa Mohamed Saya tinggal di Depok Indonesia, saya segera ingin menggunakan media ini secara online untuk memberi tahu seluruh Indonesia untuk berhati-hati agar tidak jatuh ke tangan pemberi pinjaman palsu. ada banyak pemberi pinjaman palsu di sini di internet dan beberapa dari mereka asli dan nyata.

    Saya ingin bersaksi tentang bagaimana Tuhan Yang Mahakuasa membimbing saya menjadi pemberi pinjaman sejati PERUSAHAAN RIKA ANDERSON LOAN dan mengubah hidup saya dari rumput menjadi Grace. Saya tertipu oleh beberapa pemberi pinjaman di internet, saya kehilangan banyak uang untuk membayar pendaftaran, jaminan, pajak dan setelah pembayaran saya masih belum mendapatkan pinjaman saya.

    Kemudian saya menjadi sangat putus asa untuk mendapatkan pinjaman dari pemberi pinjaman online sehingga saya memutuskan untuk menghubungi seorang teman yang baru saja mendapatkan pinjaman online dan berbagi kisahnya secara online, dia bercerita tentang seorang wanita bernama Mrs. RIKA ANDERSON, CEO RIKA ANDERSON PERUSAHAAN PINJAMAN.

    PERUSAHAAN PINJAMAN RIKA ANDERSON
    Situs web: rikaandersonloancompany.webs.com
    e-mail rikaandersonloancompany@gmail.com
    Layanan Pelanggan Whatsapp: +15183602491

    Beberapa hari yang lalu saya mengajukan pinjaman (Rp200.000.000) dengan bunga rendah, saya memberi tahu ibu saya apa yang ingin saya gunakan untuk membangun bisnis saya dan pinjaman saya disetujui dengan mudah. Tidak ada tekanan dan semua persiapan dilakukan dengan transfer kredit dan dalam waktu kurang dari 24 jam saya menerima pesan bank dari mentransfer pinjaman saya ke rekening bank saya dan saya sangat senang dengan bisnis dan keluarga saya.

    Siapa pun yang menginginkan pemberi pinjaman menghubungi Rika Anderson. Saya berdoa agar Tuhan memberkati ibu karena perbuatan baik yang telah ia lakukan dalam hidup saya. Anda juga dapat menghubungi saya di email najwamohamedh@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hubungi kami:
                                     email _iskandalestari.kreditpersatuan@gmail.com
                                                  WhatsApp: (+ 44) 7480 729811
                                                    Tel .... (+ 44) 7480 729811

    Apakah Anda memerlukan pinjaman yang sah, jujur, bereputasi dan mendesak? Pencarian Anda untuk pinjaman yang sah berakhir di sini hari ini karena kami di sini untuk memenuhi kebutuhan keuangan Anda. Jika Anda telah ditolak pinjaman oleh bank atau lembaga keuangan dengan alasan apa pun jangan khawatir lagi tentang masalah keuangan Anda karena kami adalah solusi untuk kemalangan finansial Anda. Kami telah menyediakan Miliaran (mata uang berbeda) dalam pinjaman bisnis kepada lebih dari 32.000 pemilik bisnis. Kami menggunakan teknologi risiko yang kami tentukan sendiri untuk memberi Anda pinjaman bisnis yang tepat sehingga Anda dapat tumbuh urusanmu. kami menawarkan pinjaman untuk semua jenis dengan tingkat bunga rendah dan juga jangka waktu untuk membayar kembali pinjaman. Apakah Anda memiliki kredit yang buruk? Apakah Anda memerlukan uang untuk membayar tagihan? atau Anda merasa perlu memulai bisnis baru? Apakah Anda memiliki proyek yang belum selesai karena pendanaan yang buruk? Apakah Anda memerlukan uang untuk berinvestasi dalam spesialisasi apa pun yang akan menguntungkan Anda? ISKANDAR LESTARI LOAN COMPANY bertujuan untuk memberikan layanan keuangan profesional yang sangat baik e_mail: (iskandalestari.kreditpersatuan@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  8. OCEAN FINANCE GLOBAL INVESTMENT LOAN.

    Ocean Finance is a Private Loan Lending company and a co-operate financier for
    real estate and any kind of business financing.

    We also offer Loans to individuals, Firms and co-operate bodies at low
    interest rate of 3% percent, loan terms determinant,Loan amount between the sum of
    one thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) to ten million ($10,000.000.00 Dollars).

    We also Offer The Following Kind Of Loans

    * Personal Loan (Secure and Unsecured)
    * Business Loan (Secure and Unsecured)
    * Consolidation Loan
    * International Loan.
    * Refinance
    * Home Improvement
    * Investment Loan
    * Auto Loans
    * Debt Consolidation
    * Student Loan
    * Line of Credit
    -Low Down or Zero Money Financing Program Available

    FIRST INFORMATION NEEDED ARE:

    Full Name:
    Location:
    Age:
    Contact Phone numbers:
    Amount Needed/

    E-mail: markthomasfinanceltd@gmail.com
    Whats App +919667837169

    Dr. Mark Thomas

    ReplyDelete
  9. OCEAN FINANCE GLOBAL INVESTMENT LOAN.

    Ocean Finance is a Private Loan Lending company and a co-operate financier for
    real estate and any kind of business financing.

    We also offer Loans to individuals, Firms and co-operate bodies at low
    interest rate of 3% percent, loan terms determinant,Loan amount between the sum of
    one thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) to ten million ($10,000.000.00 Dollars).

    We also Offer The Following Kind Of Loans

    * Personal Loan (Secure and Unsecured)
    * Business Loan (Secure and Unsecured)
    * Consolidation Loan
    * International Loan.
    * Refinance
    * Home Improvement
    * Investment Loan
    * Auto Loans
    * Debt Consolidation
    * Student Loan
    * Line of Credit
    -Low Down or Zero Money Financing Program Available

    FIRST INFORMATION NEEDED ARE:

    Full Name:
    Location:
    Age:
    Contact Phone numbers:
    Amount Needed/

    E-mail: markthomasfinanceltd@gmail.com
    Whats App +919667837169

    Dr. Mark Thomas

    ReplyDelete
  10. Do you need Finance? Are you looking for Finance? Are you looking for finance to enlarge your business? We help individuals and companies to obtain finance for business expanding and to setup a new business ranging any amount. Get finance at affordable interest rate of 3%, Do you need this finance for business and to clear your bills? Then send us an email now for more information contact us now via (financialserviceoffer876@gmail.com) whats-App +918929509036 Dr James Eric Finance Pvt Ltd Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  11. Assalamualaikum

    My name is Kartika Fitri (kartikafitri74@gmail.com) from Bogor (Indonesia), during the Covid19 Pandemic, my husband's business was in debt because he could not keep up, so I searched online how I can get a personal loan because I don't have collateral, I contacted several company loans but it turns out to be scams and scams after sending them money, you won't hear from them again

    So I saw a post from Mahammad Ismali (Mahammadismali234@gmail.com) about a loan from Dangote Loan Company Via email: Dangotegrouploandepartment@gmail.com with 2% loan interest, so I contacted them following their procedure and I got my loan IDR 500,000,000.00 ( 500 million) was approved and transferred to us

    I want to thank Dangote Loan Company and also Mahammad Ismali and I say thank you forever, my advice to anyone reading this don't waste your time looking for loans anymore where contact Dangote Loan Company and I swear with my life that they are real and legitimate

    ReplyDelete
  12. GET RICH WITH BLANK ATM CARD ... Whatsapp: +18033921735

    I want to testify about Dark Web blank atm cards which can withdraw money from any atm machines around the world. I was very poor before and have no job. I saw so many testimony about how Dark Web hackers send them the atm blank card and use it to collect money in any atm machine and become rich. ( darkwebblankatmcard@gmail.com ) I email them also and they sent me the blank atm card. I have use it to get 90,000 dollars. withdraw the maximum of 5,000 USD daily. Dark Web is giving out the card just to help the poor. Hack and take money directly from any atm machine vault with the use of atm programmed card which runs in automatic mode.

    Email: darkwebblankatmcard@gmail.com
    Text & Call or WhatsApp: +18033921735

    ReplyDelete
  13. Blank ATM Cards
    We have specially programmed ATM cards for sale.
    These ATM cards can be used to withdraw cash at any ATM machines or swipe & stores, outlets and any point of sales.
    We sell these cards to all our customers and interested buyers all over the world, the cards have a withdrawal limit every week.
    We sell these cards to all our customers and interested buyers worldwide. Some cards have a daily withdrawal limit of $5,000 in ATM and up to $100,000 spending limit depending on the usage.
    We also offer the following services:
    1)WESTERN UNION TRANSFERS/MONEY GRAM TRANSFER
    2)BANKS LOGINS
    3)BANKS TRANSFERS
    4)CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING
    5)BUYING OF GIFT CARDS
    6)LOADING OF ACCOUNTS
    7)WALMART TRANSFERS
    8)BITCOIN INVESTMENTS
    9)REMOVING OF NAME FROM DEBIT RECORD AND CRIMINAL RECORD
    10)BANK HACKING

    Becoming wealthy and living the lifestyle of the rich and famous is the dream of many people. And whilst most people go to work or seek other ethical methods of making money online.
    The blank ATM withdraws money from any ATM machines and there is no name on it because it is blank, it is not traceable and now I have money for business, shopping and enough money for me and my family to live on.
    PROGRAMMED blank ATM card will be delivered to you anywhere in the world.
    Contact Person: Prof Alexander Castro
    E-Mail: atmservices44@yahoo.com
    Email: hacklords.investors@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. GET RICH WITH THE USE OF BLANK ATM CARD FROM
    (besthackersworld58@gmail.com)
    Has anyone here heard about blank ATM card? An ATM card that allows you to withdraw cash from any Atm machine in the world. No name required, no address required and no bank account required. The Atm card is already programmed to dispense cash from any Atm machine worldwide. I heard about this Atm card online but at first i didn't pay attention to it because everything seems too good to be true, but i was convinced & shocked when my friend at my place of work got the card from guarantee Atm card vendor. We both went to the ATM machine center and confirmed it really works, without delay i gave it a go. Ever since then I’ve been withdrawing $1,500 to $5000 daily from the blank ATM card & this card has really changed my life financially. I just bought an expensive car and am planning to get a house. For those interested in making quick money should contact them on: Email address : besthackersworld58@gmail.com or WhatsApp him on +1(323)-723-2568

    ReplyDelete
  15. URGENT LOAN IS AVAILABLE NOW
    TODAY I GOT MY DESIRED LOAN AMOUNT $760,000.00 FROM A RELIABLE AND TRUSTED LOAN COMPANY LAST WEEK BUSINESS/HOME/COMPANY/PROJECT/PERSONAL LOAN? ARE NOW AFFORDABLE HERE FOR YOU TODAY CONTACT Whatsapp +1(541)279-1406 Email profdorothyinvestments@gmail.com

    Hello, I'm here to testify of how i got my real estate business loan from PROF. MRS.DOROTHY JEAN INVESTMENTS (profdorothyinvestments@gmail.com) I don't know if you are in need of an urgent loan to pay bills, start business or build a house, they offer all kinds of loan Ranging from $5,000.00 to $2,000,000.00USD with a low interest rate of 2% and loan duration of 1 to 33 years to pay back the loan secure and unsecured. Are you losing sleep at nights worrying how to get a Legit Loan Lender?
    MRS.DOROTHY JEAN holds all of the information about how to obtain money quickly and painlessly without cost/stress via Contacts Whatsapp Number +1(541)279-1406 Email profdorothyinvestments@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete