BILUM FESTIVAL IN HAGEN

Nicholas Kanema selling his crafts at Bilum Festival in Mt Hagen.

USE YOUR HANDS & FEET WISELY, SAYS CANE MAN

BY KOLOPU WAIMA of Post-Courier

 

A Pangia  man,  who travelled by road to Mount Hagen to sell his artifacts at Bilum festival yesterday, never saw the inside of a school classroom.

But lack of education has not stopped him from venturing into business, making cane products.

Nicholas Kanema sold his hand made crafts for K100 to K300 depending on their sizes.

Mr Kanema said that he owns Pangia Cultural Tourism Centre in Pangia, Southern Highlands but has no way to expose his skills and end products.

He said that he was invited by bilum festival in Mt Hagen to showcase his skills and products.

“I travelled all the way from Pondi village, Pangia, Southern Highlands to display and sell my artifacts, I sell tea trays, flower pot and stools for K100 to K300,” he said.

He said that he built these crafts using bush materials. 

He said that he has skills and knowledge was gifted from God.

“I did not go to school to acquire these skills and knowledge, I used my own ideas,” he said.

Mr Kanema said that he used various patterns on different crafts to display how skillful he is.

“No one can copy because it takes a lot of time to catch up. It needs dedication, commitment and efforts to do all these,” he said.

He said that he had the opportunity there yesterday so he was fortunate to showcase and sell his crafts.

Mr Kanema said the Government of Papua New Guinea should recognize hardworking self-employed people like him so set up proper markets in the Highlands to sell their products.