The remote Malamata community nestled on the border of Enga and East Sepik Provinces has finally seen some changes and developments through the initiation of the Malatamata Yapo Cultural festival. Malamata or Malamanda village is in the Karawari Local Level Government with a population of over 15,000. It is truly the last frontier where not many people from that part of the country are exposed to the rapid and evolving transformation.
The lifestyle is a much more simple village way of living. There is only one community school in the area serving the entire villages in both the Enga and East Sepik Provinces. The place is isolated due to its geographical location and the environment is very much connected to the nature.
The beauty of the place is naturally diverse with the exotic species of animals that fill up the mountainous forests. The endangered Bird of Paradise and other species is also found there where you rarely get a glimpse elsewhere. However, the only means of transport into or from Malamata is via foot through the bush tracks or a light airplane.
Not many people get to see the nature and beauty of the people in this remote community. Malamata is the last frontier, and the people there are some of the hardest working, and resilient in their quest to access better services reaching their communities. There aren’t natural resources or any economic activities that they would be able to venture to sustain their livelihood.
However, they rely mostly on the forests for.