Inap Yu Harem Mi

This piece was written in the year 2014 as part of my Matai performance under the guidance of Ms. Jacki Leota’s UU204 summer class. Following that, I shared this piece at the Inap Yu Harem Mi (Hear My Voice) USPSA (University of the South Pacific Student Association) Art Exhibition, Gallery of Oceanian Art Foyer and Conference Centre, Laucala Campus. Later that year, I performed this piece again in September at the Wansolwara Madang Dance Gathering, Papua New Guinea. This piece was also performed in the year 2022 online as part of the #Fight4OurFuture activities hosted by the International Indigenous People's Movement for Self-determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) and the Merdeka West Papua Support Network.

Inap yu harim mi?

Olsem laion i singaut nogut tru long kindom

Mi weit tasol long go fri

Ol tambaran man win gen

Mi stap insait long pasin nogut blong ol

Gan em kilim na bagarapim mipela

Liklik man wantain liklik tingtingInap yu lukim mi?

Mi kalabus long soul blong me yet

Lewa blong mi buruk stret

Ol masol blong mi kisim bagarap

Bloot i kapsait long lewa na neck in drai tumas

Taim bloot is ron long dispela rot blong seim pasin

Man wantain ol pikinini tuOl i dai long dispela nait

Olsem na bai mi larem dispela pasin nogut go yet?

Mi no wanpela diwai nogat frut long enMi save mi igat planti

Mi wanpela blong Wes Papua stretBody blong mi stap long kalabus

Tasol spirit blong mi em fri

Oseania kirap! Kirap long krai blong mi

Mi wanpela blong yupela na yu wanpela blong mipela

Mipela skelim wan solwara, spirit na laikim mama graun blong yumi

Tasol yu fri na mi nogat

Mi salem han blong mi kam long yuYu bai mekim wanem?