Wakhai Yam Festival puts Namblo village on the national tourism map
Namblo Village, located in the Nuku Central LLG of West Sepik Province, is poised to become a cultural tourism destination over the next 50 years, following the successful staging of its fifth Wakhai Yam Festival on Friday, September 19, 2025.
The festival hosted by the five yam-growing tribes of Imbi-ip [Gwarara], Kalem [Wam-afa], WrroYongaf [Wamblu], Engiap [Olbahayaf], and Termes [Olbunamblif], celebrates the village’s deep-rooted yam-growing traditions that span generations.
Yams are more than just a crop for these communities. They hold ceremonial and cultural significance, playing a central role in events such as bride price exchanges, compensation ceremonies, and feast celebrations. Through the Wakhai Yam Festival, the people of Namblo are not only honoring their ancestors' knowledge but also opening the door to tourism, trade, and cultural preservation.
This year’s festival marked a turning point. For the first time, national leaders including the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and Member for Vanimo-Green, Belden Namah, joined the celebration alongside West Sepik Governor Tony Wouwou, Minister for Public Service and Nuku MP Joe Sungi, and other dignitaries.
Minister Namah praised the people of Namblo for preserving their heritage and pledged K30,000 from his Ministry to support the festival. He also announced that the Wakhai Yam Festival will be officially certified by the Tourism Promotion Authority [TPA] and included in the national events calendar, a move expected to attract both domestic and international tourists starting in 2026.
“Our goal is to indigenize art and culture, modernize the industry, and promote peace and unity. The Wakhai Yam Festival can become a national symbol of unity and cultural pride,” said Minister Namah.
Governor Wouwou, who hails from Nuku District, added a contribution of K10,000, and commended the organizing committee for their effort, urging locals to take ownership of such initiatives.
The Wakhai Yam Festival is not only preserving culture but also creating economic opportunities. Festival organizers, led by Chairman David Halau, invested over K41,000 to purchase yams from local farmers to display and share during the event.
District Administrator Paul Nengai confirmed that yam will now be recognized as a local commodity, with prices starting at K10 per yam. This development means farmers can now earn a sustainable income while continuing to cultivate their ancestral crop.
“We’re not just celebrating yams, we’re building a future for our people,” said Halau. “This festival is a seed for the next 50 years of cultural and economic growth."
The event followed strict customary protocols. On the night before the festival, all women were asked to remain indoors, allowing men to prepare the sacred yam display arranged in pyramid formations before sunrise.
On the festival day, vibrant sing-sing groups from all five tribes and neighboring villages filled the celebration grounds with music, dance, and color. Guests were treated to yam displays, traditional performances, and local hospitality, with leftover yams distributed among attendees and villagers.
With national recognition secured and financial backing pledged, the Wakhai Yam Festival has become more than a village event, it is now a cultural beacon for the entire Nuku District.
The people of Namblo are hopeful and energized, knowing that their traditions, once celebrated only among themselves, are now being shared with the nation and soon, the world.
