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More than 12,000 people attended the first-ever Meganesia Concert at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on Saturday evening.
The stadium came alive with music, colour, and excitement. People started arriving hours before the gates opened at 3 pm.
The concert was a major cultural event leading up to Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary in 2025.
NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop gave an official speech. He praised the teamwork between Indigenous artists from Australia and PNG. He said Meganesia was a celebration of shared culture, identity, and dreams.
Governor Parkop thanked the Australian High Commission, NCDC, Amazing Port Moresby, and Gaba Musik for their support.
He spoke about PNG’s journey since independence and highlighted the strong relationship between PNG and Australia in education, health, disaster response, and development.
He also talked about the deep cultural connection between Indigenous Australians and the people of Western New Guinea.
Governor Parkop thanked all the performers, especially the famous Australian band Yothu Yindi, which includes four PNG members.
Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Mr. Wen McDonald, also spoke at the event. He praised the concert and the strong PNG-Australia relationship.
He highlighted performances by artists like Sprigga Mek, the 2019 Pacific Break winner, as a great example of regional talent.
Meganesia used music, dance, and stories to send a powerful message of unity. The crowd left the stadium feeling happy and hopeful.
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape said another concert will be held on September 14–16. It will celebrate PNG’s 50th independence with local artists, traditional dancers, and cultural performances.
