Torres Strait Cultural Festival


Torres Strait Cultural Festival is a great event.

It is right up there amongst the three best events in the Cape York peninsula area, along with Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival and Cooktown Discovery Festival.

Along with Laura it is an excellent event to experience Australian indigenous culture, and as opposed to Laura this event is obviously about the Torres Strait islander and not the mainland Aboriginal culture.


If you are visiting the peninsula in September (every second year), it makes it well worthwhile to catch the ferry to Thursday Island in the beautiful Torres Strait.


It is also called "Winds of Zenadth Cultural Festival", and the dances you see, and the photos and videos you can make, are quite amazing.
   torres strait festival parade

There is a great parade; some local art for sale,
   torres strait islander art

... workshops and weaving demonstrations, fun competitions (yes the colour of the water is real - not photoshopped!);
   torres strait festival competition

... information stalls and food stalls,
   torres strait islander food

... and even fireworks on the Torres Strait Cultural Festival.
   torres strait festival fireworks

But best of all is the dancing.
   torres strait cultural festival

You see some great clothing and body decorations,
   torres strait islander clothes

... traditional weapons and other items used in dance,
   torres strait islander dance

... some excellent dancers,
   torres strait islander traditional dance

... men,
   torres strait islander

... women,
   torres strait islander women

... and even children,
   torres strait islander children

... who are excellent at it and obviously learn their dancing from a young age.
   torres strait islanders

In 2014 the following islands were represented at the Torres Strait Cultural Festival:

Inner Islands

Thursday Island (Waibene) - Lagaw Orway-Orway Dance Group

lagaw orway orway dancers thursday island dancers

Western Islands

Moa (St Pauls) - Lagaw Compass Dance Group

moa st pauls dancers lagaw compass dancers

Badu (Mulgrave) - Zugubal Dance Group

badu island dancers zugubal dancers

Mabuiag (Gamulag) - Kigu Dance Group

maibuiag island dancers kigu dance group

Central Islands

Iama (Yam) - Thaiwa Dance Group

iama island dancers thaiwa dance group

Warraber (Sue) - Zogo Tudi Dance Group

warraber island dancers zogo tudi dancers

Poruma
(Coconut) - Urab Dance Group

urab dance group poruma island dancers

Eastern Islands

Erub (Darnley) - Saamkarem Era Kodomer Dance Group

saamkarem era kodomer erub island dancers

Mer (Murray) - Zomered Kebile, and Neguam Dance Group

murray island dancers neguam dance group

Northern Islands

Boigu Island - Malu Kiai Mura Buai Dance Group

malu kiai mura buai dancers boigu island dancers

Videos

Do watch the ones lowest down too, they don't get worse!











P.S. I am not claiming to have an excellent video quality - just good enough that you can see what's going on and decide whether you'd like to visit the Torres Strait Cultural Festival yourself :-)





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