Black Power in the Pacific Islands✊🏿
The Black Power movement expanded far beyond the United States !
The Black Power Movement, traditionally associated with the United States, also had a profound impact across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, reaching places like Papua New Guinea. In the 1970s, the push for self-determination and Black liberation in Papua New Guinea was deeply intertwined with the ideals of the Black Power Movement. The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) became a focal point for these activities, hosting seminars and fostering a vibrant intellectual environment that drew inspiration from global Black liberation struggles. This essay explores how Black Power influenced the political, cultural, and educational landscape of Papua New Guinea during this critical period.
UPNG as a Beacon of Melanesian Transnationalism
During the 1970s, the University of Papua New Guinea emerged as a significant center for Melanesian transnationalism and intellectual discourse. It was denounced by critics as a "Mau Mau factory," but for many, it represented hope and potential for Black liberation in Oceania. Starting in 1967, UPNG hosted the Waigani seminars, which addressed various issues pertinent to Melanesia, such as economics, politics, culture, and land tenure. Influenced by movements like Josephine Abaijah's Papua Besena and the Bougainville uprisings, UPNG students engaged deeply with Africana political thought and African liberation struggles, thereby linking local aspirations with global movements for decolonization and self-determination.
Formation and Influence of the Niugini Black Power Group
In 1970, UPNG students formed the Niugini Black Power Group (BPG), inspired by Frantz Fanon's African Negritude movement. Co-founder Leo Hannett asserted that the movement was essential for Papua New Guinea, paralleling the importance of traditional practices like chewing betel nut. The BPG addressed local issues of Australian colonialism, resource exploitation, and segregation while drawing inspiration from global Black activists like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Kwame Nkrumah. The group actively organized demonstrations, lectures, and published articles in the student newsletter, Nilaidat, advocating for self-determination and control over the country's mineral resources.
Artistic and Literary Contributions to Black Power
The Niugini Black Power Group was not just a political movement but also a cultural one, significantly contributing to the arts and literature in Papua New Guinea. Members like John Kasaipwalova and Arthur Jawodimbari used their works to promote Black consciousness and nationalism. Kasaipwalova's poetry, for instance, invoked African Diasporic ideas of liberation, while Jawodimbari developed popular theater as a medium of expression, liberation, and education. Supported by UPNG professors like Prithvindra Chakravarti and Ulli Beier, these artists produced significant works in English, indigenous languages, and Pidgin, thereby fostering a sense of Melanesian transnationalism and modernity.
Conclusion
The influence of Black Power in Papua New Guinea during the 1970s was profound and multifaceted. Through the efforts of the Niugini Black Power Group and the intellectual and cultural activities at the University of Papua New Guinea, the movement provided a framework for addressing local issues of colonialism and self-determination. It also connected Papua New Guinea to the broader Black liberation struggles across the globe. The legacy of this movement is seen in the enduring contributions to political thought, literature, and cultural identity in Papua New Guinea, highlighting the global reach and impact of Black Power.
Voice of the Ancestors Book Series