19/09/2026
🇵🇬 A HISTORIC FIRST FOR THE SEPIK WEST NEW BRITAIN COMMUNITY
PROUDLY REPRESENTING WEST NEW BRITAIN AT PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S 51ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Wewak, East Sepik Province | Wednesday, 16 September 2026
The Sepik West New Britain Community proudly and successfully participated in the 51st Independence Anniversary Celebrations held in Wewak on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
This occasion holds a very special place in the history of our community.
For the first time since the establishment of the West New Britain community in East Sepik, we have officially come together as a community to participate in a major Independence Anniversary celebration and publicly showcase our cultural heritage.
This was truly a first of its kind, and we are deeply grateful, humbled and immensely proud of what our community achieved.
Our participation provided us with an opportunity to proudly represent West New Britain and share our unique cultural heritage with the people of East Sepik and the wider Wewak community.
🎶 OUR CULTURAL PRESENTATION
As part of the celebrations, the Sepik West New Britain Community presented a vibrant String-band Performance and Singsing Tubuna, featuring a beautiful combination of traditional Murmur and Rai dances.
Our performers brought together traditional songs, dances, attire and cultural expressions to give the wider community a glimpse of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of West New Britain.
More importantly, the presentation demonstrated that our culture remains alive and continues to unite our people — even when we are far away from our home province.
🙏 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE EAST SEPIK PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
We sincerely acknowledge and thank the East Sepik Provincial Administration for organising and facilitating the 51st Independence Anniversary celebrations and for providing communities with the opportunity to participate and showcase their cultural identities.
We are grateful for the platform provided to us and for welcoming our community to be part of this significant national celebration.
🛡️ SECURITY AND SAFETY
Our sincere appreciation goes to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary personnel in Wewak for providing security during the celebrations.
We also acknowledge the official Security Personnel of the East Sepik Provincial Administration for their support and commitment in helping ensure a safe and orderly celebration.
We further extend our appreciation to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, particularly the 2nd Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR), Moem Barracks, for their support and presence during this important national occasion.
🤝 OUR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
We acknowledge with sincere appreciation our Chairman, Mr. Theodore Lavu, and our Vice Chairman, Mr. Peter Yehiwambu, together with all Executive Members and Committee Members of the Sepik West New Britain Community.
Your leadership, coordination, encouragement and commitment helped make this historic participation possible.
We recognise the many hours of planning, communication, preparation and mobilisation that went into bringing our community together for this occasion.
⛪ SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
We respectfully acknowledge and thank Father Patrick Bai of YC St Francis Parish and Father Donius of Moem Barracks for their spiritual guidance, support and encouragement to our community.
Your presence and support are sincerely appreciated.
🎓 STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY
A special acknowledgement goes to all the students of Reverend Maru Teachers College who participated and supported our presentation.
We also sincerely acknowledge the families of our soldier members at Moem Barracks, as well as all our families within the Sepik West New Britain Community in Wewak.
To our friends, fans of WNB, the diehards of WNB and all our wantoks in East Sepik, we thank you for your enthusiasm, encouragement and unwavering support.
❤️ TO OUR PEOPLE BACK HOME IN WEST NEW BRITAIN
Our appreciation does not stop at Wewak.
We extend our heartfelt greetings and gratitude to all our families, relatives, friends and wantoks throughout West New Britain Province who stood behind us from afar.
To our people back home in Kimbe, Talasea, Hoskins, Kandrian, Gloucester, Bali, Gasmata, Bialla, Ulamona, Nakanai and throughout the length and breadth of West New Britain — this achievement is also yours.
Your messages of encouragement, support, excitement and momentum from back home gave our community here in East Sepik even greater motivation to proudly represent our province.
Although distance separates us, the spirit of West New Britain remains strong.
From Wewak to West New Britain — we stand together as one WNB family. ❤️💙💛
👏 TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE
We acknowledge and sincerely thank every single participant and supporter who contributed to this historic occasion.
To our dancers, singers, musicians, cultural performers, students, families, friends, supporters and everyone who worked behind the scenes — we appreciate you.
To those who contributed financially or materially, assisted with transportation, prepared traditional attire, attended rehearsals, helped coordinate activities, encouraged our performers or simply came out to support us — your contribution mattered.
Some contributions were visible; others happened quietly behind the scenes. Every contribution helped make this first official participation a success.
🇵🇬 A MOMENT TO REMEMBER
The 16th of September 2026 will remain a memorable day for the Sepik West New Britain Community.
It marked our first official participation of this kind, and it demonstrated what can happen when our people put aside individual differences and come together with one purpose — to celebrate our culture, our community and our nation.
We have much to be grateful for and much to be proud of.
From our community leadership to our performers, from our families to our supporters, from Wewak to our people back home in West New Britain — this was a collective achievement.
We thank everyone who helped make history with us.
🇵🇬 HAPPY 51ST INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA!
Sepik West New Britain Community
Wewak, East Sepik Province
16 September 2026
Different Cultures. One Community. One Nation.
🇵🇬 WEST NEW BRITAIN — OUR CULTURE. OUR PRIDE. OUR IDENTITY. 🇵🇬
