Milne Bay Canoe Festival

Canoes and the Kundu drums are a significant aspect of the lives of the people of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.  Both the Canoe and the Kundu were widely used in olden times in ceremonies and rituals and were meticulously crafted from special woods under strict customs, to derive the best results and to appease the gods.

The National Canoe and Kundu Festival were first held in Milne Bay in 2003. The canoes that are used in the festival are crafted in the same way that the canoes were crafted many years ago by the people’s ancestors. The colours and patterns reflect upon the tribe and the area the canoe comes from. The canoes and traditional dancing groups come from all over the Milne Bay province, including some parts of the Papuan Region. Thus, the festival is rich with variety of performances.

The event takes place usually around the final week of October, to early November. In 2011, it will be from November 4-6th. Prizes are give to the winning groups and the canoes are assembled a day earlier at Wagawaga Island, to form a convoy before sailing to Alotau for the official opening ceremony.

Other activities include;

    * Arts and craft displays
    * String band competition
    * Drama and a combined church service.