Over K50,000 committed to Digaso festival

This year promises to be another exciting year with the operator of PNG LNG Project, ExxonMobil PNG, reaffirming its ongoing support of over K50,000 to the Kutubu Kundu and Digaso Festival.

The presentation was made to the Festival committee member recently at the Daga village in the Southern Highlands Province.

ExxonMobil PNG’s Pipeline Operations Supervisor, Noah Pingin, in presenting the cheque, said the festival continues to be an important event because it helps promote the uniqueness of Kutubu’s rich socio-cultural practices and traditions through dress, song, dance and food.

“We are honoured to be part of this community driven initiative that aims to preserve cultural heritage and promote tourism in the areas in which we operate,” Pingin said.

With this year's theme as "Strongim na Wok Bung Wantaim”, the festival will run from 19 to 21 September. It will bring together people from the Kutubu, Bosavi, Samberigi, Kikori areas and Hela Province.

The funding from ExxonMobil PNG will help with transportation and logistics of singsing groups from Kutubu, Bosavi and Samberigi. To date, ExxonMobil PNG Limited has provided more than K300,000 over the last 9 years since the start of the festival.

Speaking on behalf of the local organising committee, James Irimaru, chairman of the Festival, thanked ExxonMobil PNG saying: “With ExxonMobil PNG’s support, we will be able to bring many groups that will be performing at the festival.

“Through this festivity, we can celebrate our cultural heritage as well as promote the preservation of our environment,” he said.

This year’s festivity will showcase Digaso’s oil extraction method, tapa cloth making, sago making demonstration, canoe racing and displays of the short-headed and fish-tail kundu, including traditional music and dances.

Author: 
Press release