Loujaya Toni – a life of music, politics & poetry….
23 July 2012
KEITH JACKSON
LOUJAYA TONI (46), who shocked a strong field of male contenders to become Papua New Guinea’s newest female parliamentarian, was born in the city she now represents.
Before yesterday’s win in Lae Open, Loujaya had been an aspiring politician for some years. She contested the national elections in 2007 and the Local Level Government Elections in 2008, giving her male opposition candidates a close run for their money.
While still at school in Port Moresby in 1978, she was nominated as PNG’s youngest poet by the University of Papua New Guinea. Her collection of poems, A Sense of Interest, was later published by the Education Department.
In 1985 she launched a string of solo gospel music albums under the name Loujaya Dunar and has since been recognised as a singer/songwriter. She wrote and performed the song, Keep the Fire Alive with the group Tambaran Culture as a tribute to the 9th South Pacific Games held in Port Moresby in 1991.
Loujaya is a qualified journalist and teacher and also a practicing naturopath. She is a part-time tutor at the University of Technology in Lae and has been a full-time student in the Department of Communication Development Studies, graduating in April, 2012.
This poem, with a powerful political theme, was written as an entry in this year’s Crocodile Prize.
Twenty-two women
By Loujaya Toni
Twenty two women
Sitting ducks
Shot at
Mercilessly
By trigger happy mouths;
A
Nameless, faceless number
Posing
Threatening shadows
Women in waiting
Wanna-be politicians
Hopeful governors;
Unknown but significant
Twenty two women
All wanting
In on parliament;
They are daunting shadows
Reaching in
To the men’s haus
Haunting his wildest political dreams
Forcing a hand in his schemes
Being
A very present number
At all
His deliberations
Seen and heard more
Than a mere apparition;
Twenty two women
Waiting their dues.
Wow! I know it's never that easy to climb till you reached that destiny.
I believed it was a long time dream and also a laying down of life you sacrificed to achive and see this day come to its fullness.
Thank God for such a strong and a courageous heart like you Loujaya. That's the spirit of Joseph.
So you've held onto your dream for so long till now it came into reallity. It's all about the power that works in you (Ephesians 3:20).
Posted by: Mrs Talitha Simoi | 15 April 2013 at 11:30 AM
Congratulations, Mrs Toni. Being your student back at Aiyura in 97-98 you have been an inspiration to many. May the good lord bless you with wisdom and clear thinking.
Posted by: Benson Nobathu, NZ | 04 September 2012 at 09:52 AM
Loujaya Toni.. You are an inspiration to all women and the nation as a whole. Wonderful poem. Congratulations on becoming the Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development! God bless...
Posted by: Urith Toa | 30 August 2012 at 10:23 AM
Loujaya, You have no one to emulate and fill anyone’s thongs, sandals, shoes and what have you.
Follow the timeless instructions and values from your mother and father – who I believe must be devout Christians. Things will be fine – with the Spirit of God guiding every step of your journey.
Pay no attention to advisors and proposals made to you with strings attached, especially items that God detests.
I publicly volunteer to skim through bills and proposals made through your Ministerial Office if deemed necessary.
Many a budding PNG women leaders are encouraged by your win – the legacy you set behind is important
Posted by: Corney K. Alone | 13 August 2012 at 07:51 PM
Thank you all for your kind words and the effort taken by the author of writeup about me.
I remind myself of what some writer said in years gone by...'When you laugh, the World laughs with you but when you cry, you cry alone'.
I thank God for the years that have gone and I stand on their rememberances- an Ebenezar stone. In my hand is a pebble I am ready to skim it over uncharted waters and watch the distance it accomplishes from where I stand.
You are my friends for now but my journey is one I must make alone in a house of many divides.Trust no one but God and yourself in Him.
MP 4 Lae and Minister for Community Development, Hon.Loujaya Toni.
____________
We all still feel the thrill of you victory Loujaya, and congratulate on your important ministerial appointment - KJ
Posted by: Loujaya toni | 13 August 2012 at 04:39 PM
Loujaya Toni is such a courageous women in her time. I am thinking of following her but the situation made it a hindrance.
Posted by: Janna Jane Smith | 11 August 2012 at 04:25 AM
Congratulation Loujaya, women of courage. You will be like Delilah and people will come to you for advice and encouragement.
God will open many doors for you to break through many obstacle. My prayer is with you.
Posted by: Dau Zorong | 03 August 2012 at 10:59 AM
Congratulations to you, Loujaya Tony, my teacher formerly known as Ms Duna at Aiyura National High School in 2008.
You truly will make a good leader, you deserve that seat in parliament.
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you - Philippians 4:13.
Posted by: Lizzen Kafare Nobathu | 25 July 2012 at 07:09 PM
Congratulations Loujaya, you are a very inspiring woman. You have made us woman proud this election. May God bless you.
Posted by: Lucy Ingles | 25 July 2012 at 12:04 AM
In one word I can say she's astounding.
Posted by: Elise Atalu | 24 July 2012 at 01:58 PM
Wow,an inspiration to us young women. I just got goose bumps.
I think you are one of the God choosen leaders for our Country, PNG. God bless you!
Posted by: Cathy Meaa | 24 July 2012 at 12:48 PM
Madam, with due respect to others, but, don't let gender be an issue in your tenure because the good Lord gave you this mandate to be his people's servant and not somebody's leader.
Be a person and do not give people the excuse to remind themself that you are a woman.
Posted by: Francis Xavier Waeda | 24 July 2012 at 12:45 PM
Welcome to the lair of the wolves. Be strong.
You are the Queen Esther in PNG.
God bless and be with you. Congratualtions!
Posted by: Manoa Rakoroi | 24 July 2012 at 11:26 AM
It is soooo good to see a PNG woman elected by her people to represent them.
To this young lady: I do not know you but what does it matter? You are a woman and a PNGean and I am hoping you all the best for what is coming your way.
You are the Ruth of the Bible in our times; it was for such time as this you were born - so go girl!
I will you cheer from here in my prayers...so my God help me remember her and other great women of PNG.
Posted by: Judy Warrillow | 24 July 2012 at 11:00 AM
Congratulations Loujaya! This is inspirational, you've done it for the women of PNG.
My appreciation goes to your voters who have the confidence in you, especially in such an environment.
This is a motivation for other voters in other regions. Who knows after another five years, we hope to see more women. God bless you.
Posted by: Lisa Iki | 24 July 2012 at 10:45 AM
Congratulations Loujaya. I can only begin to imagine how hard you must have worked to achieve this great victory.
Very best wishes for your future in a challenging and difficult environment
Posted by: Diane Ryan | 24 July 2012 at 10:18 AM
Congratulations Loujaya, we the women of Solomon Islands will learn from your success and in the years to come will get to Parliament.
God bless you and give you wisdom and strength to represent your community and nation as a whole.
Posted by: Marisa Pepa | 24 July 2012 at 10:11 AM
Great meaning behind.....
Posted by: Michael Maehaka | 24 July 2012 at 09:43 AM
Loujaya - Congratulations on your victory! I thank God that you are one of a kind.
I am throughly blessed and grateful to God to have known you when you were here at as a student at Goroka. You are an inspiration and a blessing to all of us.
Posted by: Anne-Marie Wanamp | 24 July 2012 at 08:58 AM
You have become an inspiration to many of us! Congratulations and wish you all the best in the years to come.
Posted by: Jonah Henry | 24 July 2012 at 08:48 AM
For me, it is just wonderful to see all the women congratulating Loujaya.
I also pray that she will turn to God for wisdom in how to tackle the huge problems of corruption in the country. She will need a lot of patience and persistence and a "good moral compass", over the coming years.
Posted by: Mrs Barbara Short | 24 July 2012 at 07:32 AM
Congratulations. Women are the manufacturers of man. You made history. God be with you in your new political career at the national level.
Posted by: Lepi Yamba | 24 July 2012 at 04:48 AM
Congratulations Loujaya for making history! May God bless you... (the poem reduced me to tears!') .. the wait is over .... God is good!
Posted by: Anita Wahawe / London | 24 July 2012 at 01:56 AM
A real inspiration you are. Touch hearts as young as three and making a mark in PNG politics.
God bless you for that, and we look forward to see you touch others with those blessings.
Congratulations to you, Loujaya Toni.
Posted by: Cessy Lilly | 24 July 2012 at 01:31 AM
You are an inspiration to the young women of today's generation. Congratulations on your win.
Posted by: Rachael Elemi | 23 July 2012 at 10:54 PM
Congratulations Lou....After we parted at JVC, we meet again here...
Posted by: Heather Pole | 23 July 2012 at 03:55 PM
Wow, this is a cool poem, very inspiring...
And congratulations, Loujaya Toni, for winning a seat in parliament.
Posted by: Gina Maka'a | 23 July 2012 at 02:05 PM