Young Pioneer Tours, in conjunction with the Bougainville Arts, Culture, and Tourism Authority, is proud to present the 2025 Bougainville Cultural Show.
This three-day event, also known as the Tama Festival, will take place from August 21st to 23rd, with Young Pioneer Tours as the exclusive travel partner. It conveniently follows the Mount Hagen Show and our tour there, offering an excellent opportunity to experience both events.
What is Bougainville?
Bougainville, an island in the Pacific Ocean, is one of the most unique and fascinating regions in the world. Located to the east of Papua New Guinea, Bougainville has a rich cultural heritage and a complex history, having come close to becoming the world’s newest nation. Bougainville was a major site of conflict during the Bougainville Civil War (1988-1998), driven by a desire for independence from Papua New Guinea, largely due to issues surrounding the Panguna copper mine. In recent years, Bougainville has made significant strides toward self-determination. A 2019 referendum resulted in an overwhelming vote for independence, and while formal independence has not yet been achieved, the region is on track to become the next sovereign state in the Pacific.
Bougainville’s culture is equally rich and diverse, with over 20 distinct languages spoken across the islands. The people of Bougainville are known for their strong sense of identity and deep connection to their land and traditions, celebrated through music, dance, and art.
For those looking to explore this unique part of the world, Young Pioneer Tours is one of the few companies offering regular tours to Bougainville, providing an authentic, immersive experience into the island’s history, culture, and ongoing journey toward independence.
Click here to learn about the slow road to Bougainville Independence.
What is the Tama Festival?
The Tama Festival in Bougainville is a vibrant three-day event celebrating the island’s rich cultural heritage and traditions. Held annually in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the festival brings together communities from across the region to showcase their unique customs, arts, and crafts. It centres around “tama,” a traditional local delicacy made from ingredients like cassava, banana, taro, and coconut milk, typically wrapped in fresh banana leaves and cooked over an open fire. It features a variety of activities, including tama-making competitions, traditional fire-making contests, and kaku (canoe) carving.
During the festival, visitors can experience a variety of cultural performances, including traditional dances, music, and theatrical plays. The event also features arts and crafts exhibitions, where local artisans display their work, offering a glimpse into the creative talents of the Bougainville people. Additionally, the festival includes contemporary music performances, fashion shows, and other entertainment activities that highlight the dynamic culture of the region.
For the first time, and as part of our partnership with YPT, the festival will be held directly after the Mount Hagen Festival. This means guests can now experience both incredible events with enough time to travel, exclusively with Young Pioneer Tours. Previously, the events were held at the same time, forcing visitors to choose between them.
How Can I Visit the Bougainville Cultural Show?
The Bougainville Cultural Show, or Tama Festival, can be done in conjunction with our Mount Hagen Festival Tour, with guests flying back to Port Moresby before continuing on to Buka. Alternatively, it can be booked as a standalone tour. In this case, guests will meet their YPT guide in Port Moresby before traveling to Bougainville.
Upon arrival, guests will take part in the three-day event before exploring other incredible parts of Bougainville, such as the crash site of Yamamoto and the island’s amazing island-hopping opportunities, among other attractions.
Due to flight restrictions, we expect this tour to be extremely popular, so we recommend booking as soon as possible.
YPT also offers bespoke packages to Papua New Guinea, West Papua and of course Bougainville.
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