Spirit of Melanesia, Arts and Culture Festival begins

The Spirit of Melanesia was felt as participants from other Melanesian countries joined in at the start of the Melanesian Arts and culture festival  in Port Moresby. A  canoe regatta was started this morning at Ela Beach.

It was more entertaining, while the participants including host Papua New Guineans awaited the arrival of the canoes from Manubada Island.

The Fijians led the entertainment, while, joined in by Solomon Islanders, and the Manus and Central dancers.

Acting Director of the National Cultural Commission and Chairman of the 

Festival Organizing Committee, Dr. Jacob Simet, said the ceremony symbolically signifies the visitors' arrival on the shores of Papua New Guinea.

"This particular event is kind of a tradition in the Pacific, with festival. Its a Symbolic on our arrival on our land. We all believe that where ever we are in the Pacific, especially Melanesia, we came there by canoe. So this canoe regatta symbolysis the arrival of PNG people by canoe on the Island of New Guinea."

Among dignitaries at the Ela Beach to witness the welcome canoe regatta were the Minister for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Boka Kondra, Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group Council, F-L-N-K-S Victor Tutugoro, and Chairman of the Motu-Koitabu Assembly, Miria Ikupu.

The official opening ceremony of the 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival will be this afternoon at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.