shipstamps.co.uk

The Kenu & Kundu Festival is a celebration of the traditional sailing canoes and «Kundu» drums that are an integral part of life in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The canoes and drums were used in the community’s traditional ceremonies and rituals and were crafted under specific customs in order to appease the gods and achieve the best results.Canoes featured include; Traditional Lopo War canoes from mainland Milne Bay, Trading Canoes of “Kula-ring” and other Islanders. Kula, also known as the Kula exchange or Kula ring, is a ceremonial exchange system conducted in the Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea. Canoes and kundu drums are a significant part of the lives of the people of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. The canoe and the kundu are widely used in traditional ceremonies and rituals in Milne Bay. The 'war canoes' are especially crafted from special woods under strict customs to derive the best results and ensure their use is a successful or victorious one.The Kenu and Kundu Festival was first held in Milne Bay in 2003.The canoes used in the festival are crafted the same way as the ancestors of the Milne Bay people built their own canoes many years ago.There are approximately five different types of canoes, these include the smaller sailing canoes with outriggers and sails, Long War canoes bearing elaborately decorated prows Wood carving, historically, has been an important art of the Milne Bay area.[3] The Milne Bay peoples created canoes, called waga. When Charles Gabriel Seligman visited the area in 1904, he described the «waga» as playing "such an important part in the life of the district," and being a "decorative art" that has "reached its highest expression in the carvings of the ornaments for the prows of the «waga». Canoes seat up to 50 men, canoes used purposely for trading and travel over long distances оthers were used for daily activities such as fishing. Each canoe is crafted with precision, bearing its own unique clan designs and paddled by sea-faring warriors who have spent months in isolation, preparing themselves for the big event. Many brave strong winds and rough seas for several days, even weeks to paddle into Alotau(Capital) for the festival.
Papua New Guinea 1979;40t;SG ?
Sources: wikipedia.org/wiki/Milne_Bay_Province. http://www.divediscovery.com/png/tours/ ... uSDetKLTIU. http://www.papuanewguinea.travel/viewse ... ventID=246. http://www.everfest.com/e/kenu-kundu-festival-alotau-mb. canoenkundufest.blogspot.ru/