Hagen Show opens doors for new cultural groups and international visitors
The 66th Mt Hagen Culture and Agriculture Show has opened its doors to more than traditional performances.
The three-day show at the weekend (14th-16th August) gave cultural groups and international visitors an opportunity to experience Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural diversity.
Among those making their first appearance at the Hagen Show is a cultural group from Koinambe, an area bordering Jiwaka and Madang Provinces.
For the group, taking part in one of Papua New Guinea’s biggest cultural gatherings has been made possible through its involvement with Redfern Ecotourism Lodge.
The Koinambe Waire Brukim Kumul Group leader, Lucas Mondia says the opportunity is an important step in taking its culture beyond its home community and sharing it with a wider audience.
The participation also reflects the wider reach of this year’s show, which has brought together cultural groups, businesses, farmers, tourists and visitors at Queen’s Park in Mt Hagen.
Hagen Show Chairman, Pym Mamindi says the involvement of new groups is one of the things that makes the annual event important.
" On behalf of the Hagen Show committee I would sincerely like to thank those who were involved in this year's Show. If it wasn't for you guys the Show wouldn't have even happened at all.," Mamindi said.
He thanked the sponsors for coming on board and helping the committee stage the 66th Hagen Show, despite preparations being made at relatively short notice.
The Western Highlands Provincial Government also provided K500,000 in support of the event.
The Hagen Show Chairman adds the support has helped the committee bring together the different elements needed to host the show and provide an opportunity for cultural groups to participate.
But the impact of the show goes beyond the cultural groups.
For international visitor Bryan, from Philadelphia in the United States, this is his first visit to Papua New Guinea and his first Hagen Show.
He says the experience has given him a different view of Papua New Guinean culture and its people.
"I have always dreamed to come to PNG. While I was in Australia I realized that dream was possible. And so I planned it for almost six months and now I'm here and I have no idea what to expect and the experience of the Hagen Show is like no other I have experienced."
Bryan describes the people as warm and welcoming, saying he will return home with good memories and beautiful photographs from the Hagen Show.
"For 15 years I have been looking at PNG and Hagen Show on other people's social media posts and planned that I need to go there. And now that I'm here I can say the people are very warm and helpful and not only that but the culture here I've seen is deeper than any other places that I've seen and it's beautiful," says Bryan from Philadelphia.
For the Koinambe cultural group, and visitors like Bryan, the event is more than a three-day celebration.
It is a chance for communities to share their identity, for visitors to experience cultures they may never have seen before, and for the Hagen Show to continue expanding its role as a meeting place for people from Papua New Guinea and around the world.
And for Chairman Mamindi, the support received this year has helped make that possible.
He says the committee remains grateful to every sponsor and organisation that contributed to bringing the 66th Hagen Show to life.