The Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture was officially launched on Friday, February 07th, 2025, at the National Cultural Commission Board Room in Downtown Port Moresby.

The Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture was created by a group of people who wanted to celebrate and keep alive the different cultures of the settlers in West New Britain. Many of these settlers, who are now in their 07th and 08th generations, had come from all over Papua New Guinea and West New Britain has become their home. Over the years, their way of life has changed, especially in areas like food and daily customs, as they lived alongside the local indigenous communities. However, many settlers have lost touch with their identity and cultural practices.

This festival was started to help them reconnect with their roots and share their cultures with others. It provides a space for these settlers to remember and celebrate the traditions they brought with them from different parts of the country. The Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture is an important way for settlers to keep their cultural identity alive and pass it on to future generations.

Presented at the event was the Executive Director of National Cultural Commission, Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda, Executive Manager of Festival, Marketing, Cultural Services, Art Industry, and Development Division (FMCSID) Mr. David Taim, Chairman of the Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture Mr. Danny Nanua, committee members of the Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture and National Cultural Commission staff.

Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda expressed his gratitude to the hardworking committee members of the Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture. He acknowledged their dedication and tireless efforts in organizing such a significant event and highlighted their commitment to making the launching of the festival a reality and ensuring its success.

“Promoting our culture is not just about preserving the past; it’s about celebrating who we are and ensuring that future generations remain connected to their roots. Through festivals and cultural events, we give our traditions the platform they deserve, allowing our stories and customs to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Culture is the main thing we should preserve because when our non-renewable resources are finished, it will be the main commodity. National Cultural Commission is a small agency, and West New Britain is one of the important partners we have”, said Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda.

Mr. Danny Nanua, Chairman of the Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture, expressed his sincere gratitude to the National Cultural Commission for their support and for officially recognizing the festival. He highlighted that the festival works as an important means of preserving the cultural heritage of those who have migrated to West New Britain to work in the oil palm plantation and are at risk of losing touch with their original traditions.

He said, “Our cultures are slowly dying out and we saw oil palm as our culture, that’s why we created this initiative to uphold and reintroduce our Indigenous culture.”

National Cultural Commission presented a cheque of K10,000 with a certificate of recognition to the West New Britain Oil Palm Festival of Arts and Culture committee during the launch.