Anoek Photojournalist

STORIES: Sing-Sing at Mount Hagen

Papua New Guinea, 2007.

Every year around Independence Day, (September 16, 1975, when Australia granted full independence to Papua New Guinea), over 70 tribes from all over Papua New Guinea, gather in the remote Highlands of Mount Hagen, for the cultural festival of traditional dance. Papua New Guinea, located on the world's second largest island and most culturally diverse nation, is populated with 826 different languages and similar tribes.

The Omo Masalai Tribe (from Simbu) perform a dance at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea
   
The Omo Masalai Tribe performers from Simbu prepare near the dressing hut at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
A Young Kunga man with a headdress made from cuscus fur, prepare for their performance at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
     
  
A Kunga warrior from the Pogla district applies face paint at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
The Omo Masalai Tribe performers from Simbu relax fire near the dressing hut at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
A Mindima widow talks during preperations for the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
     
  
A young Ulya highland women, decorated in bird-of-paradise plumes and kina shells, applies fast paint for the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
Members of the Omo Masalai Tribe (from Simbu) relax after the 46thsing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
A performer of the Omo Masalai Tribe (L) a security guard (C) and an Asaro mud men from Goroka (R) relax after performing at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
     
  
The Omo Masalai Tribe performers from Simbu rehearse before entering the gates of the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
Performers rehearse backstage the cultural show a pretent war at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
The Omo Masalai Tribe (from Simbu) perform at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea
     
  
The Ko Kaimah from Pangia hangout after their flying fox dance after performing at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen
   
Papuan boys stand by a man from the Omo Masalai Tribe (R) at the 46th sing-sing cultural festival in Mount Hagen