“The festival showcases the coastal tribes of the area, and these images were taken during the Kenu and Kundu tribal festivals. The Kula exchange is a ritual that was first documented by Polish anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski. It begins with the exchange of a shell arm band, or Mwali, and finishes with the closing gift of a shell plate necklace, or Soulava. The Mwali is traded with the right hand an then circulated to the south in a counter-clockwise direction, while the Soulava is traded with the left hand and taken north in a clockwise direction. The ‘kula ring’ ritual is performed to enhance social status and secure trading relationships between villages and tribes. At the festival, local artisans show their wares, including elaborate ebony woodwork and carvings, inlaid with mother of pearl. Beautifully decorated canoes and watercraft add to the colour of the festival. Young warriors show their prowess in a number of skills.”