Old but new: Vibrancy & relevance in collection of Enga stories
14 June 2015
PHIL FITZPATRICK
An entry in the Crocodile Prize
Ok Tedi Mining Ltd Book of the Year
Remember Me and Other Stories from Enga Province, Papua New Guinea compiled by Daniel Kumbon, Pukpuk Publications/Enga Writers Association, 124 pages, ISBN: 9781514311813, Paperback US$5.83 (K15.49), eBook US$1.00 (K2.66). Available from Amazon Books
IT is the sad case that Papua New Guinea has few commercially established general publishers. This has been true since before independence in 1975.
The reasons for this are manifold, but the relatively small market for Papua New Guinean literature, both within the country and internationally is of significance.
An international lack of interest and ignorance of Papua New Guinea affairs and a rapidly declining literacy rate within the country are also factors.
Until very recently most of the books published by Papua New Guinean writers were self-published and distributed by the authors. This was, and still is, expensive and limits the size of print runs possible.
It is only in the last few years that such technologies as print-on-demand, e-books and internet distribution have made the process cheaper.
Perhaps the saddest fact is that Papua New Guinea has an over-abundance of talented writers, poets and essayists. This has become apparent over the five years of the annual Crocodile Prize literary awards – an initiative so far largely managed from outside the country.
Remember Me And Other Stories From Enga Province is a classic example of the dilemma facing Papua New Guinean writers.
The collection was largely compiled in the mid-1980s but sat on a shelf collecting dust because no publisher could be found.
The stories in the collection, and their authors, are:
Remember Me – Daniel Kumbon
Nendipilya the Orphan – Robert Kia
In the Blood – Robert Knox
The Frost - Steven Thomas Lyadale
A Date With Desire – Susan Balen
True Love – Thomas Neah
Serena - Nancy Ambis Waim
Innocent Death - Silas Mutarane
The Ugly Truth – Robert Kia
Arse Tanget to Corporate Executive - Corney Korokan Alone
Let Him Die - Brother Joe Make
Wiim and Tapeam - Thomas T Pupun
An Engan to Stand – Abby Yadi
When you read the stories you will realise what a great shame it was they went unpublished for so long. They still have vibrancy and relevance almost 30 years after they were written and are a testament to the talents of the writers.
The publication of the collection also revives the Enga Writer’s Association, which was first set up in the 1980s.
If you would like more information on the association, you should contact Daniel Kumbon in Wabag at [email protected].
Thanks angra Daniel and Keith.
Posted by: Arnold Mundua | 09 August 2015 at 01:14 PM
Angra Mundua, I'll try.
_________
On another matter relating to another book.... We are arranging for Jimmy Drekore to bring 50 copies of the 2015 Crocodile Prize Anthology to Kundiawa when he returns from the Brisbane Writers Conference in early September - KJ
Posted by: Daniel Ipan Kumbon | 09 August 2015 at 05:46 AM
Daniel, a copy for me when you come next month. I'll pay here. Thanks.
Posted by: Arnold Mundua | 08 August 2015 at 09:09 PM
Sorry John, The copies will be at the UPNG Bookshop. Not Library.
Posted by: Daniel Ipan Kumbon | 08 August 2015 at 05:23 PM
Thanks Daniel
will check out a copy on Monday!
Posted by: John Kaupa Kamasua | 08 August 2015 at 04:51 PM
The long awaited book "Remember Me and Other Stories from Enga Province" has reached the shores of PNG. Limited copies are at the UPNG Library for Port Moresby readers who might want a copy.
In Enga, Wabag Primary School is the first to receive its orders. Any school or individual wishing to order copies please call Daniel Kumbon on 7110 5400 or email [email protected] or better still talk to him on one of the few streets in Wabag town.
One person who was doing PY in 1986 cried his heart out when he read again the stories we published in the UPNG Enga Student's Association Yearbook when he saw how the stories were relevent in today's time and age.
Posted by: Daniel Ipan Kumbon | 08 August 2015 at 04:02 PM
I have always admired 4 men while growing up as a young man in Wabag. Daniel Kumbon, Kundapen Talyaga, Aki Tumu and Jeffery Apakali.....! I know that these men will continue to market Enga and this is no surprise. Please continue the noble work, Mr. Kumbon. Gamar Iki and Jeffery Apakali will equally be proud of you.
Enga will forver adore and remember you in the centuries to come!
Aimos Joseph Akem
Wabag, Enga
Posted by: Aimos Joseph Akem | 18 June 2015 at 04:26 PM
Wonderful news and effort Daniel.
Proud of you.
Eternal thanks to the stalwarts, Phil and Keith.
This thing is growing.
Posted by: Corney Korokan Alone | 16 June 2015 at 08:51 PM
Congradulations Daniel for bringing to life Engan literatures that had been dead under the carpets for some years. We all know that there is no money in it but we are doing it for the love of it and for future generations to take delight in them so keep at it.
Posted by: Francis Nii | 15 June 2015 at 11:13 PM
Thanks Kela, I'll go to the archives and read the story about Pat Siwi. I used to enjoy his songs.
When I saw the band for the first time performing at the 1974 Morobe Agricultural Show, the crowds went wild. They wanted the Wahgi Hellcats to sing only 'Aiyo mana yao'. I was part of that crowd.
__________
You can read Sil Bolkin's great piece on the Wahgi Hellcats here: http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2012/11/wahgi-hellcats-a-rock-band-born-before-its-time.html - KJ
Posted by: Daniel Ipan Kumbon | 15 June 2015 at 07:48 AM
Mr Kumbon, bookshops in PNG like to buy European stuff and not so much written by our own kind. Only UPNG bookshop buys and sells PNG stuff.
I interviewed Pat Siwi and wrote an article entitled 'Wahgi Hellcats: a rock band ‘born before its time’ for the PNG Attitude blog.
Gabriel Wambun must have read this and commented about his brother Sandan.
Posted by: Kela Kapkora Sil Bolkin | 14 June 2015 at 10:28 PM
You know Gabriel, Pat Siwi is Governor Peter Ipatas and former Wabag MP, Daniel Kapi's cousin brother. They are the sons of three sisters from Teremanda village where Robert Ganim's mother also comes from. Allow me to boast then that stuff from Enga can be revived even after many years like our collection of short stories just out now.
Posted by: Daniel Ipan Kumbon | 14 June 2015 at 07:48 PM
I would just like to add on the story of Pat Siwi and the Wahgi Hellcats. I was a liitle boy back in Minj in 1973 when the band was formed.
This band went onto release their first album with Radio Western Highlands -Nek Blo Tarangau in Mt Hagen in 1979. By then I was doing my form 1 in Kerema High High School. My big brother was also a band member, He was Sandan Wambun, the bass guitarist, sadly he passed away in 2003.
I lost the cassette but I did convert the music to digital and 34 years on, I still have a copy of this great historical album.
Posted by: Gabriel Wambun | 14 June 2015 at 06:00 PM
Thanks Kela for the comment. I have sighted your book published by Crawford House. I have seen Francis Nii's, Michael Dom's and others but hard to reach.
I read Dom's O Arise and am reading Phil's about the inspector because they are free on the internet. How to buy our own books at a bookshop is a problem and maybe it will be very expensive too.
Yes, Enga has its own history and so do all the other provinces and cultural groups in our country. Local tourism and reading about each other's different cultures go hand in hand I think.
Posted by: Daniel Ipan Kumbon | 14 June 2015 at 03:10 PM
Congratulations to Mr Kumbon and team. Enga is a nation with its own history and cosmology.
It needs to be told for the other Melanesians, including the world, to appreciate and respect the Engan's interpretation of the world and their destiny.
Posted by: Kela Kapkora Sil Bolkin | 14 June 2015 at 08:23 AM