Mt Hagen Show a cultural festival for the senses

Thursday 20th August 2020

A heady mix of sight, sound and colour, the Mt Hagen Show is considered one of the must-attend events on Papua New Guinea’s cultural calendar.

Held each year in August, the two-day event draws tribes from across the highlands in a celebration of culture and custom that has evolved to draw an audience of travellers from across the globe.

Here’s an insight into one of Papua New Guinea’s biggest cultural events and what it means to the communities behind it.

A long history

First started in the 1960s, the Mt Hagen Show had its origins as a peacekeeping sing-sing between sparring tribes.

Since then it has evolved into one of the biggest festivals in PNG, bringing together over 80 tribes each year, and seeing tourists travel from all over the world to witness the spectacle unfold.

And it’s a spectacle for all the senses that sees the beat of rhythmic drums stir the soul as tribes perform dance and sing in painted faces beneath towering headdresses.

All this occurs against the backdrop of Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands, which is an adventure in itself.

A festival for the senses

Each of the customs, costumes and dances on display at the Mt Hagen Show has its origins deep in the region’s history.

From dancers decked out as skeletons who mock stalk members of the audience, to performances punctuated by brightly painted faces and ornate headgear, many costumes evoke ancient ancestors.

The festival presents an opportunity to engage with each of these traditions in a display that is immersive, utterly awe inspiring, and one of the rare opportunities to get up close and personal with some of the oldest intact cultures in the world.

The Paiya Show

Held the day prior to the Mt Hagen Show, the Paiya mini show takes place in a village 45 minutes from Mt Hagen. The event offers an immersive insight into tribal custom and the tireless preparation that goes into readying for the sing-sing.

Guests attending have the opportunity to mingle with villagers before watching a series of performances ranging from mock fighting to traditional marriage ceremonies.

Attendees then partake in a traditional feast to round out the festivities.

The Mt Hagen and Paiya Shows take place in August each year, usually around the third weekend of the month.

About Paga Hill Estate

Paga Hill Estate is a world-class, master-planned estate in the heart of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The waterfront site is the first comprehensively planned multi-use development in Papua New Guinea to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike.

The all-inclusive development will include vibrant public spaces and waterfront promenade, luxury hotels, residential apartments, restaurants, retail, commercial space, a Trade, Exhibition & Cultural Centre, restoration of WWII relics, marina precinct and a nearby international cruise liner terminal.