Focus

Showtime in the Highlands

Once again, Papua New Guinea’s

extraordinary cultural diversity

set the Highlands alive with a dance celebration last month.

Dancers came from all over the country, representatives of many of the 700 clans, to perform in the annual Highlands Show.

It started in the 50s and was designed to maintain cultural practices and draw a

variety of traditions together. Alternately

held in Goroka and Mount Hagen, the event is something which, once seen, is never forgotten. Men, women and children, their bodies

covered in coloured ocres and powder paints move rythmically to the beat of snake-skin drums. Decorated with leaves and feathers, dried yellow daisies and the bright blue bodies of the Bird of Paradise, the dust surrounds them as they stamp their feet.

Everywhere hangs the smell of pig fat, sweat and the superb smoky odour of grass skirts dried over fire. The day wears on and the heat of the afternoon sun turns cool with dusk. It’s like nothing I’ve seen before. The power of excitement and the incredible wealth and richness of Papua New Guinean culture is breathtaking. □