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Starting in the 1960s, the Eastern and Western Highlands Provinces alternately held a Show on the third weekend of August in either Mt. Hagen or Goroka, where the local tribes competed against each other in traditional cultural events. The original purpose of the Show was to serve as an aggression outlet in the place of on-going warfare between the various tribes. However, it did not work very well because the losers of the competitions simply attacked the winners! As a result, a decision was made to award prizes to all participants! Depending on where a contestant is from, they are outfitted with an assortment of plumage from Birds of Paradise and Cassowaries, sea shells traded in from the coast, and animal furs, bones and teeth (typically from Tree Kangaroos, the lemur-like Cuscus and Boars). The effect is further enhanced by facial piercing and painting with a wide variety of colours and pigments derived from ochres, clay and lime. A white head feather is the symbol that the wearer is a full warrior. This typical stocky Highland warrior is adorned with the usual multi-layered skirt in front with a sheaf of grass covering his backside. Bows and arrows are commonly carried around even during normal activities, as I saw on many of my trips to the Highlands. The other photos show typical adornments on the bare-breasted female participants, including Tree Kangaroo tail or Cuscus fur adornments. It really was quite something to be able to see these festivities taking place, especially considering that it was only just over 40-years since Westerners in significant numbers penetrated these remote mountainous areas of PNG! Leave a Comment Directions: The Show in downtown Mt. Hagen
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In 1964 the tribes around Mount Hagen came together at the first Mt Hagen cultural show. The festival, which lasted about a week, recalled the Scots’ highland games in that it brought together often warring tribes in a sort of “time out” where they could compete in peaceful competitions that involved elaborate costumes and aggressive singing and dancing. In 2001, about 1,000 overseas visitors took in the show, while another 70,000 New Guineans did the same. If you can make it to the highlands show in August(13th~15th), 2004, you will be assured of seeing some impressive traditional dancing. It's a shame that western culture has instilled such a feeling of shame in some women that they refuse to wear the traditional bilas without a bra. Leave a Comment Address: Mt Hagen, Western Highlands ProvinceWebsite: www.pngtourism.org.pg/provinces/ whighlandsp/whighlandsp.htm
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on December 13, 2006
Mount Hagen
on April 3, 2004
