For the second year running I have been lucky enough to travel to Papua New Guinea to manage operations for an international cruise ship arriving into Alotau (PNG) for the day during the annual Kenu & Kundu Festival.

The annual Kenu and Kundu Festival was held on the 7th-9th of November, 2014 along the bay of the charming town of Alotau, Milne Bay Province. Canoes and the Kundu drums are a significant aspect of the lives of the people of Milne Bay.

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 worshiped gods.

The Kenu and Kundu Festival was 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.

This year I was taken back by the stories the many faces of the elders told. No words were needed – just expressions. So I grabbed my pocket camera and with permission this is what I recorded. I hope you see the same that I saw.