Kutubu Kundu & Digaso Festival

🪶 Celebrate one of Papua New Guinea’s most culturally and environmentally rich festivals in the heart of the Southern Highlands Province.

The Kutubu Kundu & Digaso Festival is an annual gathering that honours the cultural heritage of the Kutubu people — especially the traditional kundu drum and digaso oil, a sacred red oil derived from local tree bark. Held from 15–17 September 2025, the festival takes place across two stunning locations: Lake Kutubu and Pimaga Station.

Surrounded by the untouched beauty of the Kikori Basin — home to rare wildlife such as the world’s longest land-living eel and 12 endemic fish species — the festival brings together over 40 communities from Bosavi, Kikori, Hela, Enga, and beyond. It’s a vibrant celebration of tradition, storytelling, biodiversity, and peace-building.

Since its inception in 2011, the festival has served as a platform for:

• Cultural exchange and preservation

• Promoting sustainable tourism and local economies

• Raising awareness on education, environmental issues, and climate change

🎉 What to Expect

Under this year’s theme, “Strongim Pasin Tumbuna na Kalsa Bilong Yumi” (Strengthen Our Ancestral Ways and Culture), visitors can look forward to a truly immersive experience, including:

• Traditional sing-sing performances

• Digaso oil and sago extraction demonstrations

• Bilum weaving and traditional arts & crafts

• Canoe races and Lake Kutubu cultural tours

• Visits to the iconic Kutubu long haus

The festival warmly welcomes both local and international guests to connect with the spirit of Lake Kutubu — through dance, dialogue, and deep cultural knowledge.