The National Kenu and Kundu Festival

Living in a bay that is home to some of the most spectacular marine biodiversity in the world means that the locals have developed a rich connection with the water. Scuba divers from around the world also flock to Milne Bay to see the area’s underwater treasures. And to celebrate their close affinity with the sea, the locals put on a canoe festival in early November every year.

The National Kenu and Kundu Festival kicks off with a conch shell blown at dawn, accompanied by the rhythmic banging of kundu drums, and the small town of Alotau comes to life as people pack the shore to watch the famous canoe races. Costumed warriors paddle vigorously in long, carved dugout canoes, their colorful watercraft rushing over the water against the rugged backdrop of Papua New Guinea's mainland.

This celebration has a South Pacific atmosphere as canoe races and marine skills commemorate the coastal people's affinity with the water, set against the gorgeous background of Milne Bay, one of PNG's marine biodiversity hotspots. Conch shells are blown as kundu drums pound a rhythmic beat during a spine-tingling dawn opening.

When: November
Where: Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Guinea