U nder the glare of Sir Hubert Murray Stadium’s floodlights, veteran Aroma Coast (Central) singer Betty Toea Abau stepped to the microphone and coaxed the opening notes of her 1990s anthem ‘Rorie Rori’– a song that mourns the end of a relationship and the promises that were not kept. Right: A live baby crocodile from the Sepik River was one of the gifts presented to NCD Governor Powes Parkop at the Momase Day celebrations at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on July 26. The little croc has now found a new home at the POM Nature Park A month-long, four-Saturday festival in Port Moresby in July that individually focused on the four regions of Southern, Niugini Islands, Highlands and Momase was created by city leaders to bring PNG culture, music, dance and food in a grassroots buildup to the 50th anniversary of Independence on September 16 together through
Popular Central singer Betty Toea Abau was one of the headline acts at the Southern Day regional festival
Within seconds, the Southern region crowd was singing the familiar chorus back to her – a living reminder that this old radio hit will never age. Betty’s set was part of the very first PNG Story regional festival on July 5 and marked the continuation of a golden jubilee countdown that has been firmly focused on music, culture and bringing people together.
The brief was simple – to give each of PNG’s four regions a chance to shine over four Saturdays in July under the theme: One City . One Kantri. One Future . Each festival mixed a float parade, cultural showcases, live music, sing-sing dances, craft markets, local cuisine food stalls and storytelling – all with free entry to keep the spotlight firmly on community spirit. For Betty Toea Abau,
who is local musical royalty as the daughter of the late Kiki Geno, MBE – frontman of the legendary Paramana Strangers – and with over 100 songs of her own recorded over the past 25 years earning her multiple awards, it’s her commitment to mentoring younger performers that keeps her diary full. “I will continue to sing and produce songs until death do me part from singing,” she told the
VOLUME 44 2025
9
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog