Eastern Highlands,

a colorful celebration!

Flag with a diagonal split, red on the top half and green on the bottom half, featuring yellow flowers with eight petals. A large yellow star is centered, with a figure holding a plant in the middle.

Eastern Highlands

The Goroka festival

Heartland of Tradition

and Diversity

Map of the island of New Guinea, showing the eastern part as Papua New Guinea and the western part as part of Indonesia called West Papua.

The Eastern Highlands Province, anchored by the vibrant town of Goroka, is one of Papua New Guinea’s most culturally and geographically significant regions. Perched high in the central mountain spine of the country, it offers a cool, temperate climate, fertile valleys, and lush, terraced landscapes ideal for agriculture.

The province is known for its rich coffee production—some of the finest in PNG—and its dynamic social tapestry woven from dozens of distinct tribal groups. Each community maintains its own language, customs, and ceremonies, contributing to an extraordinary cultural mosaic. Education and health services are relatively well-developed here, in part due to the historical presence of missionaries and development programs. But above all, the Eastern Highlands are renowned for their cultural pride, expressed most vividly during the annual Goroka Show. This iconic event draws thousands of performers and visitors, offering a powerful expression of Papua New Guinea’s diversity, resilience, and unity. With its blend of modern development and deep-rooted traditions, the province embodies both the challenges and the hopes of a country that continues to build its identity in a rapidly changing world.

A celebration of identity:

our Goroka Festival experience

 

September 16, 2023 — Papua New Guinea’s Independence Day — marked a moment I won’t forget. For weeks, my friend Shaun and I had planned to reach Goroka in time for the legendary Goroka Festival. As travel in the Highlands can be unpredictable, every step of the journey brought its share of challenges, but we were driven by a shared determination. When we finally arrived, the reward exceeded all expectations. The entire town had transformed into a whirlwind of movement, music, and colour.

What struck me most was the sheer diversity of the performers: warriors in feathers and ochre, dancers in shells and grass skirts, and proud elders guiding younger generations through sacred rituals. It wasn’t just a show—it was a living tribute to the strength of identity, to community, and to the transmission of heritage across generations. People from every corner of the country had converged here, creating a rare space of joyful unity. Shaun and I wandered for hours, swept up in the energy and generosity of the locals. Despite our differences, we felt deeply connected.

The Goroka Festival reminded us that in Papua New Guinea, beauty lies in diversity—and that the spirit of independence is not just remembered, but celebrated with every step and every song.

  • Walking

    Walking

  • Cultural exchange

    Cultural exchange

We are witnessing an absolutely extraordinary display of cultural diversity, unique in the world. As soon as we step off the plane and are guided by our host Herrick through the bustling city—which, at this hour, is far from the quiet capital it usually is the rest of the year—we are overwhelmed by the vibrant and lively atmosphere of the event.

Arriving at the grounds where an impressive number of people are gathered, dressed in the traditional costumes of their respective tribes, we are surrounded by feathers, weapons, music, and chanting from all sides. Before our eyes unfolds a rare juxtaposition of cultural expressions.

What distinguishes them all are the details in their costumes, the languages spoken (over 800 languages are currently used in Papua New Guinea), and the rhythm of their dances. Yet, they are all united in the celebration of one Melanesian culture, which becomes apparent after a few hours of observation.

I invite you to discover this through these audiovisual excerpts, which will reveal a small part of its richness and splendor.

Our arrival in Goroka

Four men taking a selfie in front of a small, decorated propeller airplane with black, white, and red artistic face designs on its fuselage. The men are wearing casual clothing and carrying backpacks, with one smiling man in the foreground wearing a straw hat and red shirt. The airplane is parked on the tarmac, and the background shows a clear sky and distant trees.
Two men taking a selfie in front of a decorated Independence Day display with a flag and balloons. One man is smiling, wearing glasses and a red shirt; the other is holding a backpack, giving a thumbs-up, and wearing a yellow shirt. The background features a banner saying "Happy Independence" with a flag and patriotic decorations.
Two smiling men holding VIP passes in front of white buses, one wearing sunglasses and a straw hat, the other with a beard and yellow T-shirt, at outdoor event.

The Show

A man standing between two people in traditional tribal costumes with masks, during a cultural event with many spectators and flags in the background.
A man wearing sunglasses and an orange shirt standing among tribesmen dressed in traditional costumes with large feathered headdresses at an outdoor cultural event.
Two men at a protest or gathering, one wearing a lion mask and a red shirt, the other with traditional body paint and clothing, surrounded by a crowd holding umbrellas and flags outside on a sunny day.
A man in a red shirt standing on grass, posing with three men in traditional tribal attire and face paint at an outdoor cultural event. The background features a cloudy sky and numerous flags.
Man standing among traditionally dressed indigenous people with elaborate feathered headdresses and face paint during a cultural event outdoors.
Group of indigenous people dressed in traditional attire, standing outdoors under a blue sky.
People dressed in traditional and colorful tribal costumes with feathers, standing outdoors at a festival or cultural event.

Around the Show Ground

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A man in orange shirt and straw hat standing under a tall, decorated, cone-shaped structure with red and white patterns, surrounded by a group of people outdoors on a dirt path with trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
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Group of Indigenous men in traditional tribal costumes with large feathered headdresses and face paint, standing outdoors with trees in the background, and a Caucasian man in casual clothing among them.
Five men standing on a dirt path in a lush forest with tall trees and mountains in the background, one holding a fire extinguisher and others holding drinks, during sunset.
A man with a hat, red shirt, and backpack kneeling on the grass, receiving face painting from a person dressed in traditional tribal attire with a colorful headpiece and body paint, at an outdoor event in front of a blue NGCB banner.
A man holding a black animal, possibly a civet, on his arm at an outdoor event with other people, colorful flags, and a wooden hut in the background.
Group of indigenous people dressed in traditional attire, standing outdoors, with two visitors kneeling in front, smiling at the camera.

Portraits

Two men with face paint, one shirtless and wearing a traditional outfit with a headdress, and the other wearing a red shirt, standing outside at a cultural event with banners in the background.
Two men standing outdoors on a grassy field, one in casual clothing and the other in traditional indigenous attire, with a large crowd and flags in the background.
Group of five Wa aborigines wearing traditional attire with feathered headdresses, face paint, beaded necklaces, and painted skirts. They are standing outdoors on grass, with a cloudy sky behind them.
A young man wearing traditional tribal attire with face paint and jewelry, standing in front of others dressed similarly, with grass and natural decorations in the background.
A man wearing a large traditional tribal mask and body paint, holding a spear, standing on a grassy field during a cultural event with many people dressed in traditional attire in the background.
Young boy with painted face and traditional attire holding a stick, standing on grass at a cultural event with people in traditional costumes and dancing in the background.
Two individuals, a woman and a young boy, dressed in traditional tribal attire made of leaves and grass, with faces decorated with white paint, participating in a cultural festival outdoors on a sunny day.
A man in sunglasses, a red shirt, and khaki shorts standing next to a traditional African tribal dancer wearing elaborate face paint, a large feathered hat, and traditional attire.
Group of people dressed in traditional natural attire with face paint, necklaces, and grass skirts at an outdoor cultural event.
Man dressed in traditional tribal attire with feathered headdress, face paint, and jewelry, holding a drum during cultural celebration.

To go even further…

Group of people celebrating at an outdoor event with face paint and traditional attire, holding flags and belongings, under a yellow umbrella with cloudy sky in the background.

A unique cultural mosaic!

“Less than half a century ago, Papua New Guinea gained independence. This year, more than last year (when we were still suffering from the effects of Covid), we can feel that the entire nation is eager to celebrate the moment. Most of our Papua New Guinean colleagues were not born in 1975. […]

[…] Before our eyes unfolds a rare juxtaposition of cultural expressions. Every detail of the costumes, every language, every rhythm of dance sets them apart—but all are united in the celebration of a single Melanesian culture that, after a few hours of taking it in, begins to reveal its flavor. […]

[…] This is the moment when the true fabric of Papua New Guinea’s society reveals itself. The warmth of its people is unmistakable. Strangers become friends with a single smile, shared laughter, and spontaneous embraces. The pride in their culture shines through every gesture, every dance, every expression. […]”