BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
GIZO Primary School yesterday hosted its annual cultural event, bringing together students, parents and teachers in a vibrant celebration of culture and tradition from across Western Province.
The event saw children as young as three years old dressed in traditional attire, performing cultural dances and songs before visiting guests, parents and fellow students.
Throughout the day, eight island groups took to the centre stage to showcase their unique customs, traditional dances and cultural performances for judges and spectators.
At the end of the competition, Team Roviana was crowned winner of the 2026 Annual Cultural Event for their outstanding customs display and performances.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Head Teacher of Gizo Primary School, Ms. Mavete Matepitu, said the annual cultural day was established to help students understand and appreciate their cultures and traditions.
She explained that students were deliberately mixed into different cultural groups to encourage them to learn from one another.
“As you see today, each team is made up of children coming from different islands. There are students from Vella who are in Team Marovo and students from Roviana in Team Kolombangara.
“The idea behind this mixture is to help students learn each other’s culture, tradition and ways of living within their communities,” Matepitu added.
She said the eight cultural groups featured during the event included Shortlands, Roviana, Ranongga/Simbo, Kolombangara, Rendova, Marovo, Vella and Gilbertese.
Matepitu said society is changing rapidly and events such as the cultural day are important because they allow students to mingle, learn about diversity and develop respect for one another’s cultures and traditions.
Principal of Gizo Primary School, Dickson Nathan, thanked students, parents and teachers for their support and contributions towards the success of the event.
“Culture and tradition are important not only to students but also to those who know little about the diverse provinces.
“Engaging children at a young age to learn about culture and tradition is very important,” he added.
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