PLACE OF ORIGIN

Toku kainga tupu

I am from Central and Morobe province. The above phrase "toku kainga tupu" is in maori, which translates to "my place of origin"

The Central Side

I'm from Mekeo, a small village near to Gulf province on the Hiri-Tano highway. Mekeo is a little different from the rest of the Central Province; for example, we don't speak motu. Motu is the primary language used in the majority of Central communities. The Motuan ethnic group of Papua New Guinea speaks Motu, a Central Papuan Tip language. Particularly in and around the region's capital, Port Moresby, it is still commonly used. Mekeo has a different tongue than everyone else, though. Since I've only been to the village once, I don't know much about the native tongue or even the culture.

Traditional Central Dressing

The Morobe Side

I am originally from Bukawa, a village in the Morobe province. Morobe is widely recognized as Papua New Guinea's second largest city. Morobe Province is located in Papua New Guinea's northwestern region. The province is located on the northeast coast of Papua New Guinea and is named after the former German capital Morobe, which is located southeast of the current provincial capital, Lae City. I have only been there once throughout my life, but I am proud to call myself a Morobean and I love to go back for a visit someday.

The East New Britain Side

My parents are from the aforementioned provinces, but I actually lived and grew up in East New Britain. I resided in Raulavat, a little village in the Gazelle district along North Coast Road. I grew up there while commuting from station to station and turned it into my own village. I am and can gladly state I am a Tolai or an East New Britainer, having learned the language as well as the culture.