The whole Papua New Guinea lives in the urban shell of Port Moresby. A unique city hosting one thousand tribes living as one people.
“Port Moresby is not just a city. It is the entire Papua New Guinea with all the 1,000 tribes and 860 languages of our country in one city.” always says Hon. Powes Parkop, the Governor of the National Capital District.
Even if it looks like all the cities in the world with its buildings, roads, cars, buses, shopping centers, schools and sport facilities, Port Moresby is a city like no other. It’s not just the most important urban center of the country, not just the capital of the Nation, it is above all the melting pot of all the ethnic groups of Papua New Guinea. A unique urban space in the world with the highest human diversity. Its population comes from the East, the West, the North and the South of the archipelago, from the highest mountains of the Bismarck Range to the most remote tiny islands of the Solomon sea.
Originating from islands, coast regions, river areas or highlands… wherever they come from in Papua New Guinea, all the city’s inhabitants share Port Moresby in unity.
The twenty-two provinces of the country are represented in the city. None could be forgotten. Highlanders coming from Hela, Enga, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Chimbu, Jiwaka and Eastern Highlands. Islanders coming from Manus, New Ireland, East or West New Britain, Milne Bay or Bougainville. Coastal people coming from Sandaun, East Sepik, Western, Oro, Morobe, Madang or the Gulf. Some, finally, come from the surrounding Central province. Wherever they come from, all live together sharing Port Moresby.
No other city in the world hosts such a patchwork of communities, mosaic of cultures and variety of languages. With over 860 languages considered to represent 12% of the world’s total, Papua New Guinea has more languages than any other country. As the nation’s capital, Port Moresby reflects this unique heterogeneity and has a highly diverse population which primarily uses Tok Pisin, English and Motu in outlying villages. On September 16th, Independence celebrations testify to this unique diversity assembled in one city. No matter where they come from, everybody is wearing PNG red, black and gold. The colors of the whole country blend in the urban shell of Port Moresby.
Caption/Excerpt : Originating from islands, coast regions, river areas or highlands… wherever they come from in Papua New Guinea, all the city’s inhabitants share Port Moresby in unity. They live, die, sing and cry together as one…
Pratical information
Place to meet the diversity of PNG :
• National Museum and Art Gallery, Independence Boulevard, Waigani
• National Parliament house, Independence Boulevard, Waigani
