Festival farewells
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Outside Australias fale at the festival village, singer Kerryanne Cox’s lyrics wafted across the green, “No matter how far I go, my feet will carry me home” and the tears welled up in my eyes. Why am I so emotional?! Because it was at that moment that I realised the closing days of this festival were upon us. The farewells were beginning.
Down on Utulei Beach, the Tahitians took to the performance stage one last time with their pulsing rhythms and shaking grass skirts. But the pace slowed for a moment and the group lined up at the front of the stage to sing a farewell song. The crowd responded.
I am thinking of all the young people I have seen at this festival. The young Tongan girl that lives here in American Samoa, who came down and spent an entire day with the Tongan women learning to make tapa.
The wide eyed Polynesian girl who posed for a photo with the PNG group, her first taste of Melanesia. The boys at the umu, practicing their living Samaon culture to crowds of salivating onlookers, eager to taste the flavours. And young half Samoan Eggie, aged 16, who Clement and I found hanging out with the PNG delegation learning his PNG father’s language from the wantoks.
14 year old Joshua from New Ireland Province in PNG , who has been performing with the Tamir Cultural group for 8 years now, is an experienced performer already. This is his second trip overseas with this group, but at this festival he realises he part of something much bigger.
It is through the young ones that the cultures of the Pacific will either live or die. Those who witnessed the festival will never forget it. I am so full of hope that it has left the same lasting impression on the kids as it did on me 20 years ago. Perhaps for some an even stronger one.
For the morally sensitive Samoans to look past the bare breasts of PNG dancers and see something else. There was barely a murmur about what many expected would cause outrage over here in the Samoas. A new sensitivity was found - cultural sensitivity - one that works both ways and underlines how Pacific people walk in two worlds.
The ula of the Pacific has been thread and bound tight over these past two weeks. We got the colour and the excitement we expected, but we got so much more. Yes, culture and tradition is deeply rooted throughout the Pacific, but it’s evolving. At this festival we saw contemporary art, theatre, fashion and music - all grown out of tradition, all distinctively Pacific.
Cultural leaders are discussing the need to protect the Pacific brand, to go with the adaptations of traditional art forms, economise it and ensure the rewards go back to the people who are the custodians of these traditions. When the Pacific unites it is a powerful voice.
Back at the Australia fale, my adopted country, the country where my father was born, the crowd joined the Aboriginal performers in a farewell dance. The MC said, “In our culture we don’t say goodbye, we say see you, see you, see you later.”
See ya later! The Australian way to say farewell. So we will see you later - in four years’ time in Honiara in the Solomon Islands for the next awesome, inspiring, must do, must see, must experience Festival of Pacific Arts.
Your Comments
Bert Hall, St. George, Utah USA , August 2nd 2008
love reading your articles….when you return to Australia…is there a website or something that we can subscribe to so we can watch your shows that deal with the Pacific region….
David , August 2nd 2008
I´m writing from the antipodes, Spain. I’ve enjoyed a lot reading your stories and watching your photos. I’d like to see the next festival in the Solomon Islands and I hope you all the people from the Pacific Islands would be able to keep your amazing culture, traditions and way of life. Best wishes.
Donny Ryff , August 3rd 2008
Thankyou for your compelling and insightful account of the “Pacific” experience. Your stories are truly wonderful and have inspired me to learn more about what is a rich and diverse part of the planet.
Stewart Abdul Yareki-Port Moresby , August 4th 2008
BEING BARE-BREATED (SO WHAT) MORDERNIZATION IN SOME SENSE CORRUPTS THE MIND IN THINKING THE WAY OTHER WANT US TO THINK.
PNG IS A MELTING POT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT KNOWN MATTER WHAT WE WILL ALWAYS AND MAY I STRESS ALWAYS HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR OUR ANCESTORS AND THAT IS ONE ELEMENT WE WILL NOT CHANGE. WHY SHOULD WE ADAPT JUST TO SUIT A IF PEOPLE THAT THINK LESS OF US WHEN THEY ARE THE ONCE THAT HAVE LOST IT ALL.
COME ON OCEANIA WAKE UP AND SEE THE OCCUPTION OF OUR CULTURES, IT IS HAPPENING RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES.
RELIGION WAS GOOD BUT IT TOOK AWAY THE RIGHT FOR US TO BE WHO WE REALLY ARE.
I WILL FOREVER PROCLAIM MY RIGHT TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE THE TRUE PEOPLE.
wanbel stap………………….
Abdul…..@@@@@@@@@@@
Myra , August 6th 2008
Mr. Abdul,
Like you, I am polynesian with Samoan origins and am very proud to be one as I am also proud of my culture and heritage. I myself would not change my beliefs to suit others regardless of any situation.
I can proudly say to you that our Samoan culture is more alive today more then ever, and it is due to the root of our Samoan belief, and that is, “Samoa e muamua le Atua” - In Samoa, God is first.
Religion has not taken away any right from us to be a “true people” but it has, and all thanks be to God; made us even stronger.
God Bless.
religion!!! , August 15th 2008
Mr abdul,
God never take away your right, You have the freedom to speak, and to say whatever you want to, and to do whatever you feel like doing…and to le t you know that our samoan culture is strong up until now…. it makes it stronger and stronger if you people put God first in everything. You can proclaim whatever you want, but the “Samoan Culture” is NEVER and the belief of the people is never going to change.
god bless…
Malelega , August 1st 2008
Fa’afetai lava Tanya and Clemens. I’ve enjoyed reading your stories of the festival. Will make sure to check out Pacific Pulse. Safe journeys and Godspeed. Soifua