The Kingdom of Boralani has formally announced its intention to participate in the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) 2028, which will be held in Nouméa, New Caledonia.
The decision was approved this week following consultations between cultural organizations, community leaders, educators, and representatives of the Crown. To oversee preparations, the government has established a FestPAC 2028 Preparatory Committee tasked with coordinating the kingdom’s participation over the next two years.
The committee will be responsible for identifying artists, musicians, dancers, storytellers, craftsmen, and cultural practitioners who may form part of Boralani’s delegation. It will also oversee documentation projects aimed at preserving traditional songs, oral histories, and artisanal skills for future generations.
The committee has deliberately limited the number of preparatory events. The goal is to preserve culture, not exhaust the people responsible for it.
Speaking on the announcement, His Majesty King Tui Maretasi II described the festival as “an opportunity not merely to display our culture, but to strengthen it.”
“Traditions survive when they are practiced, shared, and passed from one generation to the next,” the King said. “The Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture allows us to celebrate what is uniquely Boralani while learning from our fellow island peoples across Oceania.”
Among the committee’s first tasks will be the development of a national cultural inventory and the organization of a series of public events leading up to the festival. Community members will be invited to nominate individuals whose knowledge and talents represent important aspects of Boralani’s heritage.
Officials have emphasized that participation in the festival is intended to involve the entire kingdom rather than a small group of performers. Schools, churches, village associations, fishing communities, and arts organizations will all be encouraged to contribute ideas and proposals.
Over the coming months, residents can expect to see workshops, exhibitions, performances, and heritage projects taking place across the island as preparations gather momentum.
While the festival itself remains two years away, many believe the greatest benefit will come long before the delegation departs.
“As island nations, we often spend time looking outward,” said one committee member. “FestPAC gives us a reason to look inward as well—to rediscover the stories, skills, and traditions that make Boralani what it is.”
The committee’s first public report is expected later this year.
For now, preparations have begun, and the road to Nouméa is officially underway.
