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The Bilum Festival

The inaugural Bilum Festival debuts on the Papua New Guinea cultural festival calendar on the 10th and 11th September 2009. It is envisaged that the Bilum Festival will become the fore-runner event to the famous Goroka Show. The Goroka Festival will be held on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September 2009.

The festival is organised by the Goroka District Events Committee and underwritten by the Local Level Government MP Hon. Benny Allan.

The Goroka District Events Committee is guided by the very experienced Mr John Doa, the Director of the National Performing Arts Troupe (Bilasim Skin Festival, Youth Festival, Traditional Music Festival) and co-ordinated by Ms Florence Jaukae-Kamel (Jaukae Bilum Products).

The objective of staging the Bilum Festival is to celebrate a traditional art form that continues to survive in the 21st Century. The age old knowledge of weaving remains intact with the only evolution being the creatively crafted products, such as the bilum wear. Other creations have been the bilum cap, hats, wall hangings, cosies, mobile phone carriers however the bilum as a bag remains the most creative expression of the weaver.

The weaving of a bilum is a skill that is commonly shared by women across the country; a skill or traditional knowledge that is passed from one generation to the next generation. It is knowledge that is learnt from Grandmothers, Aunts, Mothers and friends.

Styles or patterns vary from province to province but in this time of greater mobility by air and land or sea transport, there is a fusion of patterns or markings with the only limitation being imagination.

Bilums can be seen on the streets of Sydney, New York, London, Suva, Apia or anywhere in the world – just a simple indication of how far this unique product travels.

Maybe we should start a global collection of photographs of bilums seen in faraway places. Soon you will be able to post your snap shots on the dedicated FaceBook page. Stay tuned.