Mt. Hagen Day Festival in Papua New Guinea

Mt. Hagen, an unattractive, and often unruly town is the site of the Hagen Show, an exciting 'sing-sing' involving cultural groups from across the Western Highlands and other parts of the country. For several days they perform traditional dances, ritual performances, and feasting. 

The exciting Mt Hagen Cultural Show was first staged in 1961 before PNG's independence as an event to unite the different tribes in the region. The show's purpose is to share cultural experiences and calm tribal animosities.

All images were photographed in 1989