Meeting with Papuan chief Mundiya Kepanga

Public meeting with Mundiya Kepanga about birds, deforestation of primary forests and the climate emergency. Temporary exhibition. Saturday 18 June at 15:00.

As part of the donation of a huli ornament by Papuan chief Mundiya Kepanga, the MEG is organising a weekend of free events to celebrate this acquisition, in the presence of Mundiya Kepanga and the director Marc Dozier.

In Europe for a few months, Papuan chief Mundiya Kepanga will stop by the MEG to offer a Huli ornament to the museum. With this gesture, he wishes to raise public awareness of the issue of deforestation of the primary forests of Papua New Guinea and the importance of taking care of one's environment.

Following this ceremony, a moment of exchange with the public is organised around the huli ornament, but more generally also around the deforestation of primary forests, birds, as well as the impact of environmental degradation affecting the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.

This is a unique opportunity to hear the voice of an indigenous personality on the environmental concerns that drive him.

Speakers :

Mundiya Kepanga, Papuan chief of the Huli tribe, he leads a traditional life in his village, in the heart of one of the world's primary forests. In his culture, a tree is planted at each birth, and each deceased person is buried at the foot of a tree, since the latter is considered a "brother". "As long as there are trees, there will be people", Mundiya likes to repeat, like his ancestors. Committed to the defence of the environment and particularly the primary forest of his country, the traditional leader has been travelling in Europe since 2003 and gives conferences at the invitation of museums, researchers or schools. He has spoken on numerous occasions at international conferences in Paris (COP21...), London and New York.

Translation: Marc Dozier, photographer, filmmaker and fixer, devotes most of his work to Papua New Guinea. His work has led to the publication of numerous books and documentaries.