PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Forget bathing suits and tiaras - "Miss Traditional Papua New Guinea" is a pageant with a difference

Record ID: 737702

  • Title: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Forget bathing suits and tiaras - "Miss Traditional Papua New Guinea" is a pageant with a difference
  • Date: 5th November 2005
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHELLE PALA, MISS TRADITIONAL CONTEST PARTICIPANT, SAYING: "Yes, I would be very much excited and head over heels if I win the "Miss Traditional" because I really love my Papuan New Guinean culture."
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Papua New Guinea
  • Country: Papua New Guinea
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAD7F7VC7YUBIGECLZAZ75TM0IG
  • Story Text: Forget bathing suits and tiaras,"Miss Traditional Papua New Guinea" is a pageant with a difference. There are only five contestants and in order to go through to the next round, they have to show their knowledge of ancient culture. And wear their best, usually very elaborate, costume. Michelle Pall, from Porebada village in central province is representing the Motuan people, who speak Moto -- one of Papua New Guinea's main languages.
    This is only the second time she has worn the elaborate ceremonial outfit and she needed the help of her clan. The impact of modernisation brings daily change for Papua New Guinea but ancient rites are still performed for important social events. Pala's dress is part of an ancient rite and only worn when the village men returned from long trading expeditions.
    The painted tattoos represent tears of joy and sweat. The wild banana seed beads represent the number of days the men were away. It was taboo for women to leave their huts or talk about the men while they were away for fear of their boats capsizing.
    A school teacher by day, Pall has embraced her culture and would love to win the contest. "Yes, I would be very much excited and head over heels if I win the "Miss Traditional" because I really love my Papuan New Guinean culture."
    Shirley O'Connor, an administration officer for a motor company is representing Lalaura village in Central province's Abau district. Her painted tattoos represent her family's tribal symbols of the centipede and millipede. O'Connor's elaborate headdress is fashioned from white and black cockatoo feathers and her arm shells were used as ancient currency. "I hope that everyone coming here should be young people. If mothers and fathers are coming here, then they should go back to their children and tell them that they should still hold onto their traditions and cultures because it's our identity and something to be proud of," O'Connor said.
    There are more than 200 different cultural traditions in the impoverished South Pacific nation of 5.4 million people. Elaborate ceremonies are usually presided over by the elders of the clan, with people painted and decorated in bright colours, feathers and shells. About 80 percent of Papua New Guinea's 5.4 million population ekes out subsistence lives in villages. Some villages in the jungle-clad, mountainous island only encountered Western civilization in the 1930s.
    However, western culture and television has already corrupted the vibrant traditions. "Yes, it is important that the culture is retained because Papua New Guinea is growing, it is developing and there is a lot of influences coming from abroad, a lot of our cultures are disappearing. Papua New Guinea has more than 750 languages and language is culture. If we don't maintain cultures and these languages then they will disappear," Gima Kila, a senior programmer from the Papua New Guinea Red Cross said.
    A panel of judges question each woman on the significance of their dress and jewellery. The Red Cross have held the "Miss Traditional" contest since 1972 and stress that it is not a beauty competition but an opportunity to reaffirm the cultural identities of the people. The result will not be known until December but the contestants can be assured that they are playing a vital part in preserving their ancient culture.
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