By Sanang Zazoring in Boana
YOU ARE IN the land of Tikingic (mountain
man) – the missionary Gustove Bergman, who was named so in Kâte language of
Finschhafen and who was the first Lutheran missionary from Neuendettelsau, Germany
who evangelised the people.
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| Boana tree dance |
Boana is in the Navaeb electorate of Morobe Province.
To be in Boana, is to be in the hub of
Morobe, seeing and experiencing the scenery, flora and fauna you have never
faced before.
This all is proving that Boana is worth being considered as the
pride and identity of Morobe as it is nicely located in a pothole, surrounded
by mountains, looking towards the beginning of endless Finisterre Ranges in
northern direction.
The sun is very bright after a bid of shower and foggy
previous days – Lutheran women are at their national conference doing their
usual business.
The quiet Boana station became alive when
women from all over Papua
New Guinea invaded the place for their
biannual conference being held here from September 22-28,
So, this is Boana!
Chanting, “WE-E, WE-E, WE-E!!,” as a
greeting to welcome you to Boana made my heart sank to its place.
The next day
people confronted us with the words, “SARA – SARA,” meaning, good morning – making
me acquainted to the nature and of this amazingly friendly people.
The place became over crowded by foreigners
(local tourists as some people put it) who appeared in their thousands.
The
whole Papua New Guinea is present at this extraordinary place which is looking
like a bric-à-brac-interior as the women appear in their uniforms leaving you
in a loss of words situation.
So what?
Boana is the pride of Morobe!!
Boana’s historical moment has come
The coming of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister
becomes a historical moment for Boana people. As one announced, “We have seen
our past prime ministers through TV and newspapers omly – but today, the day
has come when Boana people will see with their own eyes when their Prime Minister
arives on their land for the first time ever.”
The descending of Prime Minster
Hon. Peter O’Neill in a chopper raised people in commotion, applauding and
pouncing the air.
The “Kumul Bilong Morobe” you find in
Boana!
The tree dance which I call ‘Kumul Dance’ with its 25-steps ladder elevated
to the sky on which men dance and performe the skills of a bird of paradise up
and down at the sound of kundu drums on the ground floor to welcome the prime
minister.
Someone in the crowd commented, “It is a victory and celebration
dance, an amazing nail biting stuff, playing with the height!
The place was painted by the influx of
people both conference guests and locals who made their presence felt in
various glimpses of activity, for some, it was an opportunity to roaming
around, spending time and enjoying the day…
The Boana station is con-joined with
government and church district centers including the Lutheran church
headquarter, a police station, a hospital, a primary school and other facilities
providing adequate infrastructure for the event.
The road linkage has finally
been rearranged allowing even bus services to travel forth and back, making
business activities convenient for general Boana people.
Thanks to the Morobe
government!
The streets of Boana station were painted
in Morobe’s traditional colors blue, green and yellow depicting Morobe’s
rainforest, sea and sun, I guess.
Streets were being named after Nawaeb
electorate’s prominent figures and heroes such as Pasom, Manek, Gustove,
Yamandi and others making them the monumental icon of Boana to be remembered
for the generation to come.
They have done Boana proud – congratulations!
You want to see and experience Boana?
We-e,
we-e, we-e!!
Your direction to Boana:
Driving from Lae you pass by Nadzab Airport
and travel north. After 4 to 5 kilometers you leave the Highway and turn right
to take the road which leads to Boana.
There you are in Boana – pride of
Morobe.
See you there!
