2008 National Mask Festival

Created by doina. Last modified on 2007-12-03 11:34:22
Countries: Papua New Guinea

The dates for the National Mask Festival in 2008 are as follows:

Wednesday, 16th July 2008 to Saturday, 19th July 2008.

The date for the Warwagira Provincial Cultural Festival is also stated below:

Wednesday, 9th July 2008 to Tuesday, 15th July 2008.

The venue for the festivals is Queen Elizabeth II Park in the heart of Rabaul town, now slowly recovering from the twin volcanic eruptions in September 1994 which devastated about 80% of the town. The ash emissions from Mt Tavurvur volcano continued on and off until February 2004 and recommenced weaker emissions again in early 2005. Previous records show that it is most probable that further activity from Tavurvur will become progressively weaker and will then cease for at least 50-60 years.

The main volcano Mt Tavurvur, with occasional blasts of smoke spiralling upwards sets a backdrop for the "Kinawai" or the arrival of the Tubuans and Duk Duks, at dawn on the beautiful Simpson Harbour which is considered by many seafarers to be the best natural harbour in the South Pacific, and surely the most scenic.

As the sun's dawn glow warms the sky behind "Kombiu" (The Mother), and slowly creeps across her volcanic children "Palinagiagia", "Rabalanakaia", "Turagunan" (South Daughter) and "Tovanumbatir" (North Daughter) bringing forth a new day, we hear the chants of the warrior escorts echoing from the caldera wall of the ancient volcano which now forms the magnificent harbour and as the morning waxes into day, a multitude of canoes slowly comes into focus carrying the Duk Duks and Tubuans, seemingly walking on the water, to make a landfall while these spirit-people fade into the surrounding jungle in preparation for the forthcoming Mask Festival at the QEII Park later in the day.

Venues

· Rabaul QEII Park - Warwargira and Mask Festival.

· Simsonhafen (Simpson Harbour) - Kinavai (arrival of the tubuans) will be on the first day of the Mask Festival at the "crack o'dawn".

Events include music and displays of traditional masks and ancient culture.