Dancing with the flow: political undercurrents at the 9th Festival of Pacific Arts

Abstract

In 2004, the Festival of Pacific Arts, held every four years, was hosted by the Republic of Palau in Micronesia with its 16 states and population of less than 20,000. An original system of community organisation, based on Palauan concepts of traditional leadership and hospitality, placed each of the 28 country delegations from all over the Pacific into the care of a Palauan ‘sister state’ and volunteer committees set up by topic (traditional navigation, theatre, music, healing and environment workshops, etc). What drove Palauans to invest so much in the festival? The heavy costs and the incredible local commitment in support of this huge ceremonial gift-exchange event, was a challenge not only to the indigenous guests but also to the diverse powers competing in the Pacific (USA, Japan, France, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia). The presentation will provide some preliminary filmic insights into some political undercurrents at this Festival.