Peter Phipps - Contesting traditions, land and resources in Papua New Guinea

Goldsmiths Centre for Cultural Studies presents a talk on Dr Peter Phipps, RMIT University Melbourne (Globalization and Culture)

Research into a Port Moresby festival celebrating the historic hiri trade between Papuans in the Moresby area and the Gulf quickly became much more complicated than anticipated. Ownership of the festival is contested between the city government and its newly-established tribal assembly, and a village which argues it is the true authority of the hiri legend and all associated activity. Going deeper, there's much more at stake than rights to the legend: from the Motu-Koita villagers' land rights in the city and surrounds, to the violent conflict over the latest capital influx and resource royalty bonanza which is transforming life in PNG.