Papua New Guinea
Oceania´s Country
Introduction
General Information
- Official Name: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
- Capital: Port Moresby
Flag
Official Languages
- Hiri Motu
- Tok Pisin
- Papua New Guinean Sign Language
- English
Population
Map
Culture
The culture of Papua New Guinea is many-sided and complex. It is estimated that more than 7000 different cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea, and most groups have their own language. Because of this diversity, in which they take pride, many different styles of cultural expression have emerged; each group has created its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes, singing, music, architecture and much more.
People typically live in villages or dispersed hamlets which rely on the subsistence of farming of yams and taro.
Festivals
The Papua New Guinea holiday and festival calendar is taken up with cultural events.
- Mt Hagen Show
First held in the 1950´s, takes place every July at the Kagamuga Show Grounds.
2. Tumbuan Mask Festival
First beginning in 1995, puts the ever-impressive mask making culture of PNG into the spotlight. Rabaul, the largest city´s island hosts the festival for three days each July.
3. Crocodile Festival
Held in the East Sepik region, this festival celebrates the significance of cocodriles. Takes place over two days in August.
4. Enga Cultural Show
Visitors get insight into local culture through dance performances, music, arts and crafts workshop and ritual performances.
5. Hiri Moale Festival
Used to commemorate the traditional trading routes between several south-west villages. Music, canoe racing, dances and arts take place in September.
Holidays
Landform
Traditional Food
Chicken pot: Chicken that has been simmered with mixed vegetables.
Mumu: Pork is roasted in a traditional oven with sweet potatoes.
Kokoda Fish: Fish cooked with a lime coconut sauce.
Kaukau:Baked sweet potato.
Things to Do
- Visit the Kokoda Trail in the fast waters.
- Port Moresby Nature Park to see the many types of birds.
- Visit Mount Hagen Market to be part of the cultural rituals with dancing and music.
Important Cities
- Port Moresby (National Capital)
- Lae (Morobe)
- Arawa
- Mount Hagen ( Western Highlands)
- Goroka ( Eastern Highlands)