A primary school in the Huon Gulf district of Morobe has put on a cultural show after almost 20 years since the last one was held.
The cultural show at Busamang Primary School was aimed at reviving and strengthening the culture of the Busamang community.
The school came alive with all the students dressed in their beautiful traditional attire to celebrate the cultural show, which started on September 16 and ending with the celebration of the 46th Independence anniversary of the country.
The school head-teacher said preparations for the show started in term three, with the support of teachers, trainers and the parents.
School Inspector Buam Damap said the students celebrated the country’s independence with cultural dancing and singing as culture is an important part of the society.
He challenged the parents to educate their children about their culture.
As we celebrate our 46th Independence anniversary, we must also ask ourselves if we are truly independent.
Education is one way that we can truly be independent and parents and the community must support their children’s education.
We must start by paying our children’s school fees because when we do that, we know the (monetary) value of education and what it can bring.
Mr Damap
Parents and several community members thanked the school and the board for the celebrations.
Many said the children performances of traditional dances and songs restored a sense of community unity.
The students were grouped into seven groups, with each group performing a different singsing that included murmur, tamol, anguac (Gwado), anguac (Wakop), sabic, siac and dua-dua.
Each group also had two contestants for the Miss and Mister Busamang titles, during which the contestants explained the meaning and significance of the songs their groups performed.