PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 3:45 PM by Luigi

Trobriand yam harvest festival a success

By HENZY YAKHAM

From The National

THIS year's Milamala (yam harvest) festival on Trobriand Islands has been hailed as a great success. The praise came from Trobriand Islands paramount chief Pulayasi Daniel after the weeklong celebration. Chief Daniel commended his people for working hard to make this yam season a good gardening year. He said the success was indicated by the large quantities of yam harvested and the peaceful celebrations. Chief Daniel stressed the importance of yam for the Kiriwina (Trobriand) people, it is the cornerstone of their lives. "Yam has a lot to do with the people's livelihood because it dictates the status of people, creates power, provides social security and safety," he added.

Chief Daniel said for a long while, the significance of yam will remain intact even though the modern cash economy provided sustenance of many Trobriand islanders. He said among others, the annual Milamala festival:

* Preserve and promote the Trobriand culture
* Retain the identity of the people
* Promote competition among the people to grow more yams
* Encourage people to be self-supporting through local food production
* Bind villagers together (have and have not)
* Promotes tourism and spin-off businesses
* Putting Milamala on the right calendar

But chief Daniel also warned his people to be wary of threat to future Milamala festivals from bad influences of people returning home from other parts of the country. "People returning home or taking part in future festivals may bring back bad influences and practices not accepted in our communities," he said. Citing stealing as an example he said theft was a shameful act in the Trobriand society and such practice were unacceptable.

Chief Daniel said another threat to the Milamala Festival was people involving themselves in practices not traditional to Trobriand culture and way of life. "The use of modern guitars and copying other styles of dancing and songs not originally from the Trobriand Islands are threats to the real spirit and meaning of Milamala," he stressed.



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DIVA-GIS	Wednesday, July 14, 2004 Posted 3:45 PM by Luigi Trobriand yam harvest festival a success By HENZY YAKHAM From The National THIS year's Milamala (yam harvest) festival on Trobriand Islands has been hailed as a great success. The praise came from Trobriand Islands paramount chief Pulayasi Daniel after the weeklong celebration. Chief Daniel commended his people for working hard to make this yam season a good gardening year. He said the success was indicated by the large quantities of yam harvested and the peaceful celebrations. Chief Daniel stressed the importance of yam for the Kiriwina (Trobriand) people, it is the cornerstone of their lives. "Yam has a lot to do with the people's livelihood because it dictates the status of people, creates power, provides social security and safety," he added. Chief Daniel said for a long while, the significance of yam will remain intact even though the modern cash economy provided sustenance of many Trobriand islanders. He said among others, the annual Milamala festival: * Preserve and promote the Trobriand culture * Retain the identity of the people * Promote competition among the people to grow more yams * Encourage people to be self-supporting through local food production * Bind villagers together (have and have not) * Promotes tourism and spin-off businesses * Putting Milamala on the right calendar But chief Daniel also warned his people to be wary of threat to future Milamala festivals from bad influences of people returning home from other parts of the country. "People returning home or taking part in future festivals may bring back bad influences and practices not accepted in our communities," he said. Citing stealing as an example he said theft was a shameful act in the Trobriand society and such practice were unacceptable. Chief Daniel said another threat to the Milamala Festival was people involving themselves in practices not traditional to Trobriand culture and way of life. "The use of modern guitars and copying other styles of dancing and songs not originally from the Trobriand Islands are threats to the real spirit and meaning of Milamala," he stressed. * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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