Every other year (on even years) the town of Goroka hosts the largest annual tribal gathering in Papua New Guinea. Always scheduled close to Independence Day (September 16), the “sing-sing” sees 100 of the tribes from the country’s Eastern Highlands Province meet in a colourful, passionate display of their unique customs and rituals (as in our fantastic image by Anselmo Lastra, above).
In essence, a sing-sing is like a giant talent contest. Tribes use them to boisterously show-off their distinct cultures, rituals, dances, dress and music. The result is a beautiful and chaotic spectacle.
On the face of things, you could be forgiven thinking that the Goroka Show dates back hundreds of years. But delve a little into its history and you discover that it was first introduced by Australian patrol officers in 1957.
Kiaps as they were known, were sent to Papua New Guinea after WWII to help bring peace between warring tribes and oversee the development in the country.
Kiaps often developed a strong affinity for the tribes living in the districts that they were responsible for. Those within the Eastern Highlands Province decided to bring all the sing-sings in the province together for one huge gathering. Outwardly they would say the event was simply for the entertainment of the province. But privately many kiaps considered this new sing-sing a competition that would reveal which of their districts were best administered.
The Goroka Show starts today (September 14) and ends on Sunday (September 16).
Check out these beautiful short films (they’re each about two minutes long) by freelance travel film-maker Clément Burelle.
“A postcard from…Papua New Guinea”
Globetrotte4peace – A postcard from… Papua New Guinea from Clement burelle on Vimeo.
“Sing-sing Goroka”
Singsing Goroka (extrait de l’effet papou) from Clement burelle on Vimeo.
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