The diminishing of cultural values
Jacob Simet; 6/10/08
The cultural splendor of the East Sepik province and the Momase region was displayed during the recent 7th Garamut Na Mambu Festival in Wewak. Garamut (slit-drum) and mambu (bamboo flutes and other bamboo musical instruments) were on display. A number of tumbuan masks performed, in association with garamut or mambu musical instruments. These were strictly traditional cultural performances. There were however two tumbuan masks that appeared at the festival which appeared to have come out of no mask culture known to us. On enquiry, it transpired that one of the masks was from a contemporary performing group from somewhere near Wewak Town. The other was from a cultural group from the Sandaun province.