Papua New Guinean literature

Papua New Guinean literature is diverse. The emergence of

written literature Writing is a medium of human communication which involves the representation of a language through a system of physically inscribed, mechanically transferred, or digitally represented symbols. Writing systems do not themselves constitute h ...

(as distinct from

oral literature Oral literature, orature or folk literature is a genre of literature that is spoken or sung as opposed to that which is written, though much oral literature has been transcribed. There is no standard definition, as anthropologists have used vary ...

) is comparatively recent in

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

. It was given its first major stimulus with the setting up of

creative writing Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary ...

courses by

Ulli Beier Chief Horst Ulrich Beier, commonly known as Ulli Beier (30 July 1922 – 3 April 2011), was a German editor, writer and scholar who had a pioneering role in developing literature, drama and poetry in Nigeria, as well as literature, drama and p ...

at the

University of Papua New Guinea The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) is a university located in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea. It was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired ...

(established in 1966). Beier also founded a Papua Pocket Poets series, as well as the literary magazine '' Kovave'', the first of its kind in the country. Some of Papua New Guinea's first noted writers, including John Kasaipwalova, Kumalau Tawali, Apisai Enos and

Kama Kerpi ''Kama'' (Sanskrit ) means "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh literature.Monier Williamsकाम, kāmaMonier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary, pp 271, see 3rd column Kama often connotes sensual pleasure, sexual ...

, were first published in ''Kovave''. In 1968,

Albert Maori Kiki Sir Albert Maori Kiki (21 September 193113 March 1993) was a Papua New Guinea politician. He was one of the founders of the Pangu Party, which demanded 'home rule leading to eventual independence' for New Guinea. Born in the Kerema district on the ...

’s autobiography ''

Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime ''Kiki: Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime'' is the autobiography of Albert Maori Kiki, a Papua New Guinea pathologist and politician. The book, first published in 1968, describes the author's childhood as a member of a semi-nomadic tribe, with v ...

'' was the first major work of Papua New Guinean literature published outside a magazine. In 1970,

Vincent Eri Sir Vincent Serei Eri (12 September 1936 – 25 May 1993) was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the fifth governor-general of Papua New Guinea from February 1990 to October 1991. Life Eri attended the University of Papua New ...

published the first Papua New Guinean novel, ''The Crocodile''. Notable Papua New Guinean writers also include

Russell Soaba Russell Soaba (born 1950, Tototo, Milne Bay) is a writer from Papua New Guinea, who was educated there, in Australia and in the United States at Brown University. Soaba is one of Papua New Guinea's most prolific writers. He now also works as an edit ...

Ignatius Kilage Sir Ignatius Kilage (12 July 1941 – 31 December 1989) was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the fourth governor-general of Papua New Guinea from March to December 1989, when he died suddenly in office. Prior to the vice regal ...

Nora Vagi Brash Nora, NORA, or Norah may refer to: * Nora (name), a feminine given name People with the surname * Arlind Nora (born 1980), Albanian footballer * Pierre Nora (born 1931), French historian Places Australia * Norah Head, New South Wales, headland ...

Steven Edmund Winduo Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

and

Loujaya Kouza Loujaya Kouza (born 20 July 1966) is a Papua New Guinean politician, poet and singer. She was known under her married name of Loujaya Toni when elected, but reverted to her maiden name in 2013 after divorcing her husband."English in the South Pacific"
John Lynch and France Mugler,

University of the South Pacific The University of the South Pacific (USP) is a public university, public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. Established in 1968, the university is organised as an intergovernmental organisation and ...

{{PapuaNewGuinea-stub