‘Weleley Kortien’ rocks Wilkins stadium marking Malampa Day

People from Malekula are gathering at Lakatoro today to celebrate Malampa Day.

Celebrations have kicked off with the Weleley Kortien Music Festival on Wednesday that has attracted a large crowd to the Wilkins Stadium.

Malampa Day is annually celebrated on October 10.

Weleley Kortien was introduced last year.

‘Kortien’, a dialect of central Malekula means bringing together and ‘Weleley’ is defined as custom dance in both the languages of Ambrym and Malekula.

Young Life band, Mr. Hoobz, singer Eddie Zadock, Tim Kalmet, Mix House, NCYC Youth, including string band groups Ravu, Rausei, 5 Star and Sister are providing entertainment for the three days. Bands like Young Life came all the way from Port Vila, others from Santo and around Malekula.

“Unity through music to develop Malampa”, is the theme of the festival.

The crowd at Lakatoro is expected to be bigger today where all the important speeches will be delivered by provincial leaders and the flag raising ceremony.

While rural celebration is taking place at the provincial town, citizens from Malampa residing in Port Vila are expected to be gathering at the Saralana Park after a march that starts from the Municipal Stadium.

Members of the Fiji community in Port Vila are joining families from Malampa at the celebration in Port Vila. The official address will be made by the Malampa Provincial Government Council.

According to the program of the day, the occasion will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Malampa Province and the Republic of Fiji. It also includes the official launch of the Malampa-Fiji Association Constitution.