Details

Latitude

-4.35381

Longitude

152.237

Start Date

1993-08-22

End Date

1993-08-22

Tape#1 Side A - Music background and Story of John Wowono told by Anton Laparami & Juliana Vatang, 22 August 1993. John Wowono was born 1920, married in 1949 and died in 1981. Anton and Juliana describes the music story of John Wowono, a pioneer stringband music composer and performer. John Wowono learnt the guitar from his elder brother, ToBunata who worked in Salamoa and Bulolo Gold Mine, Morobe Province and was given a guitar by his expatriate boss. John Wowono and then became popular with his stringband music with songs like "Ra Vuvu" and "Kaugu Gunan. In earlier days of radio broadcasts, his songs were played on he airwaves. John's stringband with members like Benny Urakil, Robin and others perform in village parties or events like weddings or fundraising called "cup tea" mostly in Toma and Kokopo area. John also performed traditional music at ceremonies of "balaguan" and "matamatam" and had powers as a "tena buai", "tena malagene" and combining such songs as "warbat" and "malira" songs into stringband music. After John Wowono's stringband, a live power band at Nangananga village was formed in Skylight band. Tape #1 Side B Music background and Story of John Wowono told by Lawrence ToBurua and other participants, 29 August 1993. Lawrence with support of others at interview describe how John Wowono learnt playing guitar from elder brother ToBunata and started Mother Stringband. It then changed to Nangananga Sports Club stringband and taught younger members like Isador Vuvul, Clement Kiliu, ToPitit, Benny Urakil in 1960s then later the first electric power band in Skylight Band claimed to be the first in the Province and then Territory of New Guinea. In the 1970s' the Nangananga stringband continued with the style of songs combined both with traditional such as "Vuntung" and stringband music composed then participated in the Tolai Warwagira with continued success. In 1981, John died of illness after he left Nangananga Village to Tavilo to work on his cocoa plantation block of land. (Steven Gagau, May 2019)

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