Make a Joyful Noise!
Our students at KICS love music. Not only listening to music but playing music as well. This past year many of the students have learned to play guitar and ukulele as well as the cajon (drum box). In our term programs many of you have had the opportunity to hear them play and sing.
Because they love music so much, we decided to make a few more drum boxes for the school and a couple extras to donate to the churches our students attend. We want them to use their gifts and abilities to serve their local congregations. We look forward to hearing them practice, perform and improve. A special thank you to Manu and Hosea with Liebenzel Mission for helping us out by teaching this special course on making drum boxes.
Term 3 Wraps Up with Independence Celebrations
Independence celebrations began early this year at KICS. On September 11th we kicked off the festivities with a formal salute to the flag, pledges and the national anthem. Our students performed traditional songs and dances and then hosted a mini cultural show. Each students explained various items, foods and traditions that are essential to the Ap Ma people. Some of the talks included how to make woven bags, fish baskets, dippers, weapons, instruments, dishes and a twine made of natural plant fibers. Others demonstrated how to cook local foods or explained marriage customs. They all worked very hard and we look forward to incorporating even more of these traditional crafts into our programs next year.
Rediscovering Ap Ma Arts & Crafts
This term we are placing a special emphasis on traditional arts and crafts. At Keram International Christian School we are preparing for our term closing program which falls on the week of PNG’s Independence. Students have teamed up with Ap Ma FODE RSC students and are enjoying working on a number of projects. They are making and dying twine from natural plant fibers, creating grass skirts from the new shoots of the sago palm, carving small canoes, making a traditional salt from ash, making clay pot stands, coconut flower pots, headdresses and decorative spears for traditional dances. We are looking forward to sharing with you all the things we are learning and we hope many will join us Friday, Sept 11, 2026 as we present displays and demonstrations of traditional arts and crafts and provide examples of traditional cooking. The students will also perform a traditional “sing sing” dance in our Ap Ma style. Proudly we pay honor and respect to the skilled men and women of the Sepik by passing on these traditions to the next generation. May we never loose sight of where we come from in the pursuit of progress, but rather use these skills and crafts as a foundation to build upon.
