... and what about

the rain?

Kairuki “rainmaker” O’ongu Mangaiva (pictured above do ing his stuff), got some un expected results when he was brought to Port Moresby by James Mopio to help wash out the independence celebrations.

Mangaiva makes rain with magic which involves use of herbs and his ancestors’ relics, after lighting a fire, and Mopio, who is president of the Papuan Liberation Movement (not to be confused with the Papua Besena) wanted him to make rain because Mopio feared there might be fighting between secessionists and nationalists at independence, and a rainstorm would satis factorily dampen everybody’s enthusiasm for fighting. There was some rain over the holi days, but hardly a washout.

But meanwhile, local publicity given to Mangaiva’s magic an noyed Mekeo dancers from the rainmaker’s area, who con sidered they were being “rubbished” and refused to send their team to take part in the big Moresby singsing.