FROM BWANA BWANA TO BUDI BUDI

 

THE POWER of GWALA

 

A BLACK seagull with a white laced neck struggled to fly against the strong South-westerly wind in a very tired fashion. The ocean flying creature flew low above the breaking waves purposely to avoid the full strength of the wind that was blowing against it.

The lonely and helpless seagull then plunged into the rough sea, wanting to catch a fish but to no avail; resurfaced and flapped its wings to dry itself then made a slow turn and glided with the wind to an unknown destination.

This was the beautiful scenery displayed against the ever glistering white sandy beach as the dinghy we were travelling on plunged and splashed against the smiling waves as we approached the calm passage and snaked our way through into the emerald waters of Anagusa or Bentley Island.

This trip was my second outing with the Eco Custodian Advocates officers George Aigoma and Noel Wangunu; United States based film maker Stephani Gordon and the ever reliable handyman Barney Tom Paul.  

Also with the team was first timer and Pacific Adventist University final year marine biologist student Janet Kuama of mix New Ireland and Milne Bay parentage.

This second visit was made available through ECA but funded under the UNDP after watching the success stories about the reintroduction of 'gwala' through the video that was produced.

The first was in October 2017 for the production of a documentary on the same project when it was first introduced and was title, “Gwala Rising in the Bwanabwana Islands.”

ECA Director David Kim Mitchell revealed that the result of the film was overwhelming. The 'gwala' film won three international awards in Paris in Europe; and New York and Los Angeles in United States.

The short documentary was also shown in 12 Film Festivals around the globe.  The film was also shown in the NBC Television. The video will now be shown in Tahiti with having the French language subtitles.

The current trip with the team could be the wrong time of the year to choose to do a project follow up visit but one could not resist to see and know what has come about since the last video produced.

It was a troublesome experience for the four days trip to the Engineer Group of Islands. Navigating the monstrous waves and fighting against the gusty winds to travel to Anagusa; Kwaraiwa; Ole and Tewatewa Islands to visit some of the gwala sites. However, it was worth such a story to tell.

Regardless the impact of the bad weather and how we were battered by the huge waves and strong winds; and travelling against the Solomon and Coral Seas fast flowing ocean currents.

The story we gathered from the island communities was gwala has now returned and found its place into the society again. It is now truly well and alive at Wialoki; Anagusa; Ole and Tewatewa Islands.

Gwala in Kaina Bwanabwana language simply means taboo and it promotes respect within the societies.

It is also the traditional management and conservation practice of setting aside a reef or forest area to allow the eco system recover. But with the current intense western and development influence being experienced; it is slowly and aggressively devouring the fabric of our societies. Therefore, certain important aspect of lives and traditions like gwala are sadly facing extinction.

Gwala is one tradition that is left high and dry and was heading to the grave in the Bwanabwana Islands until a family on Wialoki (Powell) Island in the Engineer Group of Islands decided to give a breath of life to it.

The tropical Engineer Group of Islands are a group of Islands sprinkled between the Solomon and the Coral Seas lies 97 kilometres as the crow flies straight to the south-east direction from Milne Bay provincial capital, Alotau.

The group of islands; Watts; Skelton; Slade and Butchard were named by Captain Moresby after his engineers on his explorer ship named Basilisk.

On Wialoki Island, the Ginisi family led by their mom, Marida made a bold decision to re-introduce Gwala on their paradise island home. The family decided to set aside their island reef for some years and the result they got from it was overwhelming.

Their success story definitely raised eyebrows and stirred up interest amongst the Engineer Group of Islands about the reintroduction of gwala tradition.

Today, gwala has survived and has become an international attraction after a short documentary was produced on Anagusa Island by the ward member Madiu Elama Peter and his like-minded ward members.

I decided to take time out and speak with some islanders and get their views and how important about the reintroduction of gwala on their island.

Ole Islander Robin Losilosi said gwala is a way of life developed by our forefathers that deals with everything. It is not restricted to one thing only like reef management. It also covers every aspect of life on the island.

“When elders are around. It is taboo for children to stay nearer. This is called gwala in our society.”

“Marriage is another aspect of gwala. When one is married, he or she is not allowed to have extra marital affair.  This is also treated as gwala,” Losilosi continues.

The prominent Kula man also revealed that gwala was also engraved within the practice of the Kula trading system in the Kula Trade Ring.

“Today when I travel on the traditional sailing canoe to Kwaraiwa Island. No one waits on the beach to help pull my canoe up onto safer grounds.

“I will do the hard work myself then proceed to look for my Kula partners to get assistance. This is still part of gwala that has been lost.”        

“Today, people walk past homes without been invited for meals. I will not invite you, I will not help to pull your canoe. I will even flirt my friend’s wife. All these respect has gone because gwala has disappeared,” Mr Losilosi reveals.

“Today youths scream aloud when elders are around. This signifies that they don’t have respect at all. How gwala is lived, dressed, eaten or done today has disappeared.

“We can come up with many definitions about gwala but simply it is respect. Therefore respect must be rendered to everything in life,” the Ole elder further states.

Ole Island women representative in the Gwala Committee Clerah Steven admitted that it was difficult for women to catch fish or collect shellfish in the past.

They are now very thankful for the introduction of gwala on this island. Fishing and collection of shellfish are done much closer now.

“Our husbands can also catch surplus of fish from the gwala now. We then sell the fish in Alotau to earn some money. The money raised helps the women or community activities on the island.”

“Gwala therefore cushions our financial burden at all times on this island.”

Women representative of Anagusa Island, Blanche Jerry revealed that the women folk on the island are in full support of gwala.

“Children who are 8, 6 or 5-years-old can now to go out to the gwala reef and catch big fish and collect plenty trochus shells, which was unlike in the past.

“Today, children can dive and return home with 12 trochus shells. Others come home with either 5 or 4 trochus,” Ms Jerry continues.

“In the past, it was fathers and young men that dived and collected plenty trochus. But the story is different today; children go out and dive and bring home 12 to 20 trochus shells. The result is seen more satisfying,” the lady committee adds.

Anagusa Islander Jimmy Malona also supports the existence of gwala on their island.

“I think gwala must remain because it is to help the island population. Gwala must remain so the younger generation must learn about the importance of gwala and how it helped people in the past, but we later almost lost it.

The younger generation must know that our forefathers once practiced gwala but we lost it somewhere on the way. We have now picked up the gwala idea.

“I want our children and grand-children to see, believe and accept the truth that gwala is a good practice.

“They then can always maintain the practice and it will surely help them in the many years to come.”

All production for the second gwala documentary is progressing well and it is expected to be released on the World Environment Day on June 05.

The second gwala video will be launched alongside another Tok Pisin production from New Ireland Province by the same non-government organisation advocating on the same message.