Tenth Festival of Pacific Arts (Pago Pago, American Samoa 20 July to 2 August 2008.)

Noise drowning out sea creatures
Rawiri Paratene, who starred in the award-winning New Zealand film, Whale Rider, says Pacific islanders need to help protect sea creatures from the invasive noise generated by humans.

Mr Paratene won fame for his role as the grandfather in the 2002 film directed by Niki Caro.

‘We go to the seaside because we think it’s a place of tranquility. But the reality is that the oceans are in trouble,’ he says.

Mr Paratene is publicising his latest film project on ocean noise pollution and its impact on sea creatures at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa.

He says the ancestors of Pacific islanders knew that sea creatures use sound to navigate and locate food and mates, as well as to communicate with each other. He recalls going to the sea as a child with his grandmother and other female elders to gather shellfish at low tide.

‘We were taught to move about quietly so as not to upset Tangaroa (Maori god of the sea). Other times, we would be encouraged to beat the water with sticks and deliberately make a ruckus so the fish would become confused and be easily herded into our waiting nets.’

It has long been understood in the Pacific that noise moves further and faster through water than air, Mr Paratene says. ‘During our ancestors’ times, the ocean was free of noise pollution and communication lines were clear.’

He said this knowledge was important to ancestral navigators because the migratory patterns of whales offered indicators or signposts on the ocean’s highways.

The three main contributors to noise pollution are shipping traffic, seismic exploration for oil and minerals under the sea, and military use of sonar, he says.

In the last 50 years, the noise from shipping traffic has become so loud that it masks natural sounds. Such noise could cause sea animals such as whales and dolphins to move to quieter places.

Until now the problem has been concentrated around Europe, America and parts of Asia. However, with the emergence of economic powers such as China and India, shipping traffic across the Pacific is increasing at an alarming rate, he says.

Worse than the shipping noise, is noise caused by seismic detonations. ‘With terrestrial mineral and oil deposits running low, people are turning to the ocean and using seismic blasts, which are deafening. They block out all other ocean noise including shipping noise.’

The actor says he first became interested in the issue when he heard about RIMPAC military exercises in Hawaii. The navies of the United States and its allies from Pacific Rim countries get together every two years for RIMPAC, which is the world’s largest international maritime exercise.

‘The navy’s use of sonar to detect enemy submarines has been linked to mass strandings of whales. The symptoms are unmistakable – several different species stranded over wide areas with bleeding eyes and brain hemorrhaging.’

Mr Paratene says the people of Oceania must take action as they are the guardians of the Pacific. ‘A united Pacific voice is a voice that cannot be denied.’
 

Contemporary art part of cultural identity
Participants in a symposium on youth and contemporary art at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa discussed the role of contemporary art in cultural identity.

As contemporary art gains more and more ground in the Pacific region, some people are concerned that the value and authenticity of cultural identity will diminish.

‘Not so,’ says Allan Alo, a Samoan choreographer and artistic director of the Oceania Dance Center, a contemporary dance group based in Fiji.

On the contrary, contemporary art takes people back to their identity and culture as the creation of contemporary art forms involves delving into one’s traditional past he says. ‘To dance contemporary dance, you need to explore your culture and discover your identity.’

Speaking at the symposium, Mr Alo said the depth of contemporary art in the Pacific was often underestimated. ‘There is more to contemporary art than pure entertainment. It is a tool for communicating powerful messages about social behavior and global challenges,’ he says.

Many Pacific Island countries and territories present at the festival are displaying different forms of contemporary art as well as more traditional art forms.

Fiji’s Sailasa Tora, who specializes in traditional Fijian chants known as vucu, says as culture has evolved in the Pacific, musicians have created their own distinctive contemporary Pacific styles. He says each artist has their own unique genetic fingerprint and no matter what art style they produce, the essence of their art remains the same.

‘It’s the individual musician who’s important. Even though they may use modern instruments, the celebration of [their identity] comes through the microphone and modern instruments.’

Well-known contemporary bands from around the Pacific including Fiji’s Black Rose, American Samoa’s Siliva Brothers, PNG’s Freelance, Island Fire from Western Samoa and Sharzy from Solomon Islands, have been popular crowd-pullers at the festival.

The festival’s Jam House is one of the main venues for bands and is a popular meeting place for young people.

Merita Leleua, Jam House manager, says the Pacific Island bands that are performing at the festival show the depth of musical talent in the Pacific.

‘The common thing that we Pacific people share is music, both traditional and contemporary, and I believe that without both, this festival wouldn’t be complete,’ she says.
 

American Samoan retailer supports Safe Festival Campaign
A business opportunity and a sense of duty have combined to make a shop owner in American Samoa a strong advocate of the Safe Festival Campaign organised for the 10^th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa.

Mr Fala Leasiolagi, owner of the Island Stop & Go shop, who is distributing free Safe Festival condom packs, believes the move will attract more business.

The Safe Festival campaign is being run by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) HIV & STI Section, in collaboration with the American Samoan Department of Health and the Festival Organising Committee. Its aim is to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  

At the start of the festival, campaign organisers had intended to distribute 2000 backpacks containing packages of female and male condoms, factual information on HIV and AIDS, HIV testing, STIs, and safe sex, and other health promotion items, to  participants through health briefings with each country delegation. 

However, after the condom distribution was criticised by local Catholic bishop, Bishop Weitzel, the Congregational Christian Church asked that the condoms be removed from the backpacks to be given to around 800 artists housed at its Kanana Fou Theological Campus.  

When Mr Leasiolagi, heard this, he offered to help out. In fact, he says he was approached by American Samoa’s Medical Director, Dr Ivan Tuliau, to distribute the condoms from his shop, which is handily located for festival participants staying at Kanana Fou. He immediately recognized it as a business opportunity, saying, ‘I’m willing to consider anything that will bring more customers through the door.’ 

However, it is also a chance to assist the festival organisers he says. ‘The entire community is helping the Festival Organising Committee and this is my contribution. I don’t see anything wrong with condom distribution. I don’t see why they’re making a big deal of it. It’s for the safety of everyone.’ 

He says many of the people who come in for condoms also buy other goods. While some people are shy, others are uninhibited. ‘Some people take several packages to give to their friends who are too shy to come in. Some people come in, then go out until they build up enough courage and come back in again.’ 

People generally come in groups of four or five and are a mix of all ages with the majority being in their 20s and 30s, says Mr Leasiolagi. Those around 50 years or more are mainly women and in general more women than men are taking the condoms. Both sexes are taking female and male condoms. 

Many locals are also taking advantage of the free condoms and Mr Leasiolagi, who does not currently sell condoms, intends to start stocking them.  

He says sexuality is an issue that is not often spoken about in American Samoa. ‘It’s just how we are. We don’t openly talk about sexual issues.’ 

This is beginning to change though. The territory has high rates of teenage pregnancy and the government is currently running a teenage pregnancy awareness campaign.

Mr Leasiolagi believes the issue is becoming less taboo for young people because of greater exposure to Western influences and easier access to information through various media.  

‘The government is trying to take a lead on opening up forums, for example, it is encouraging talk within families.’  

Mr Leasiolagi has not encountered any problems or criticism with distributing the condoms. ‘[Free] distribution is a lot easier than retail,’ he laughs. 

SPC’s HIV and STI prevention adviser, Robyn Drysdale, says previous experience in the Pacific shows that people are at greater risk during big regional events. In Palau, STI rates increased three fold in the three months after the Festival of Pacific Arts was held there in 2004. Two HIV cases were diagnosed in the months following, which may have been as a result of the festival. However, with HIV it is hard to identify the exact moment of infection because HIV antibodies show up anywhere between two weeks and three months after infection occurs. Because someone can have HIV for months or years without knowing it, the only way people can be sure of their status is to have an HIV antibody test.  

The organisers of the Safe Festival campaign are distributing female and male condoms at various festival venues and are also offering free, confidential HIV testing. Over 2000 artists are attending the festival.  

Background information

HIV and STI facts

• In the Pacific, 90.7 per cent of HIV infection is transmitted through heterosexual sex
• STI rates are very high throughout the Pacific.
• There are low rates of condom use, particularly amongst young people
• Knowledge of HIV and other STIs is often minimal and many myths and misconceptions are held

Solomon Islands prepares early for 11th Festival of Pacific Arts
Solomon Islands representatives at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa say they have already begun preparations to host the 11th festival.

The head of the Solomon Islands delegation in American Samoa, Robert Au, has told the Council of Pacific Arts, which oversees the promotion of culture in the Pacific including preparations for the Festival of Pacific Arts, that Solomon Islands has set itself a firm schedule for completing all arrangements in time for the 2012 festival.

Mr Au says the Council is happy with the timeline Solomon Islands has set. ‘It’s the implementation part that is always difficult because it depends heavily on financial issues.’

Solomon Islands is well represented at the 10th Festival with a total of 106 artists.
A team of observers from the Solomon Islands festival organising committee is also in American Samoa to note recommendations and observe requirements for hosting the 11th festival.

Mr Au says Solomon Islands will learn from American Samoa’s strengths and weaknesses. The organising committee will try and emulate the general set up of the 10th festival, including venues, accommodation and meal arrangements, but will also try to avoid some of the hiccups, such as too many last-minute programme changes.

Funding is the major challenge anticipated by the Solomon Islands committee. However, it is confident it will secure the necessary finance as the government, which is the main sponsor, has committed its support. The organising committee will also seek donor funding.

In terms of infrastructure, there are plans to build a rugby stadium and an art gallery before the event says Mr Au.

‘Honiara already has a football stadium, which is the main venue for such events, and a museum,’ he says. ‘All that is required is to give these facilities a facelift.’

Accommodation should not be a problem as Honiara has several options including two large, five-star hotels, Mr Au says. Solomon Islands College of Higher Education and King George VI School will provide the main accommodation facilities for country delegations.

The National Referral Hospital in Honiara and a number of private clinics will offer health services and the organising committee plans to engage additional health care.

Mr Au says the safety of delegates is a priority. Security will be ensured by Solomon Islands police with the assistance of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

The festival is a chance to counter the negative media publicity of the last few years and create a positive impact on the tourism industry, says Mr Au. ‘It is an opportunity to show other countries that Solomon Islands is a safe place to visit and live.’

He believes hosting the festival will assist Solomon Islands to bid for other regional events such as the Pacific Games. Hosting the first Melanesian Arts Festival in 1998 was a strong argument in its bid to host the 11th festival, Mr Au says.

‘We know if the 11th Festival is successful, it will help us get to the next level of hosting other regional and international events,’ he says.

Meanwhile, the Council of Pacific Arts is already looking forward to the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts and has unanimously approved a bid by Guam to host the 2016 event.


Background information
Solomon Islands facts
With its 28,370 square kilometres of land area, Solomon Islands sits in the south-west Pacific. Honiara, its capital, is located on the main island of Guadalcanal. It has a population of around 500,000. Languages spoken include Pidgin and other local languages, and English.

For more information about the festival visit the official website at http://pacartsas.com

Guam to host festival in 2016
The Governor of Guam, the Honourable Felix Camacho, has signed a letter of support for Guam to host the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts.

Last Wednesday, members of the Council of Pacific Arts, meeting in American Samoa during the 10th edition of the festival, unanimously endorsed Guam’s bid to host the 2016 event.

Governor Camacho made a brief visit to American Samoa to sign the letter on Friday before flying back to Apia to meet with US Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice. He said that Guam was extremely honoured to be selected.

‘It’s a wonderful opportunity for Guam to share with our Pacific Island brothers and sisters and enhance and develop our relationships,’ he said. ‘I know that the community will come together for this and the people of Guam will be ecstatic to host this festival.’

He said Guam would learn from the current festival in American Samoa as well as the next one in Solomon Islands.

While in American Samoa, the Governor visited the festival village and said he was struck by the great diversity of cultures and, at the same time, the commonality that existed in many areas.

‘To come to venues like this with the arts and everything related to them is fantastic. It helps that it’s not just government to government but people to people. And you can’t beat the combination of culture and arts.’

Governor Camacho also caught up with the Guam delegation attending the festival. He said young people were well represented in the delegation, which was an advantage as they would be the advocates and supporters for the Guam event in eight years time.

‘The young people are our best ambassadors here,’ he said.

He believes Guam can meet the challenge of hosting the festival as it has hosted other major logistical events such as the South Pacific Games in 1999.

The head of Guam’s delegation to the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts, Ms Sylvia Flores, says the next step will be to establish a task force to examine the best way to go about hosting the event.

She says Guam will also work closely with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). SPC offers technical support to countries hosting the Festival of Pacific Arts.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: Governor Felix Camacho of Guam with Guam’s head of delegation, Sylvia Flores, in American Samoa.

Background information
Guam facts
Guam lies in the north west of the Pacific in the Micronesian group of islands. It has a population of around 170,000 and a land area of 541 square kilometres. Guam is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. It has two official languages, Chamorro and English.
 

Festival village showcases cultural arts and skills
A superb array of arts and crafts and cultural items from around the Pacific is on display at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa.

Participating countries have set up stalls in the festival village at Samoana High School Field, opposite Utulei Beach, not far from the centre of town.

Artists from around the Pacific are displaying and selling beautiful wood carvings, stone sculptures, finely woven pandanus mats, baskets, hats, handbags, jewellery and other accessories.

Samoa has one of the largest stalls displaying a wide variety of cultural items as well as contemporary fashion. Papua New Guinea (PNG), Tonga, Fiji and Solomon Islands also have big displays.

Among the PNG items, the popular traditional hand-knotted bags (bilum) and handmade cane baskets stand out. Strings of shell money, traditionally used as a form of exchange in Solomon Islands, are also selling fast. Tongan handbags and traditional belts are other popular items, as are Fijian tapa and jewellry in traditional designs.

Other activities and art forms on display at the village and other festival venues include traditional tattooing, carving, quilting, painting and drawing, culinary and healing arts, traditional games, and navigation and canoeing. Architects and builders are also demonstrating their skills in constructing traditional designs.

Across from the festival village, traditional and contemporary performances are on show at Utulei Beach against a magnificent backdrop of sea and mountains. Performances are also being held at the Fagatogo Pavilion in the town centre and at the main stadium in the south west of the island.
 

Traditional games live again
Curious crowds have gathered to see traditional games being played by members of the Senior Community Employment Program (SCEP) at the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa.

The programme is carrying out research into traditional games and ways to revive them, says SCEP Division Manager, Valasi Lavata’i Gaisoa.

The game of taulafoga, which was mainly played by matai (chiefs) in the past, involves seeing who can throw a fine (stone) the furthest. Coconut shells can be used instead of stones.

Accuracy and concentration are needed to succeed at another game, fiti (flick game), which requires flicking a single stick clear of a pile. Fiti is played by women.

Gaisoa says taulafoga and fiti are traditional Samoan games that originated hundreds of years ago.

‘Taulafoga was a game for the matai when they had social gatherings where they were not doing anything but were practising the way they should speak.’

She says that playing the game helped inspire chiefs in the speaking skills they needed when addressing family or villagers.

To play the game, two teams sit at opposite ends of a flat, 60-foot long, raised playing surface. The surface is covered by a large mat on top of which a thin mat with a smooth surface is placed. Each team skims stones across the smooth mat to try and hit the other team’s fine off the mat and gain points.

Gaisoa says taulafoga has changed over time. ‘The game has evolved because now women are playing it, whereas before it was strictly for high chiefs.’

Fiti requires poise and accuracy, Gaisoa explains, and is usually very entertaining because players sing and dance as they play.

‘It requires a lot of coordination and concentration. Women play it in their spare time – they dance to help themselves loosen up and come back to flick only when a stick is not obstructed by other sticks and can be flicked clear of the rest.’

Gaisoa says elderly women continue to play these games today both for enjoyment and to revive and preserve an age-old art.

‘Our senior citizens have helped to revive these games, which is what the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts is all about – bringing alive our culture and tradition.’

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 Host country for 12^th festival to be selected by Council of Pacific Arts
The Council of Pacific Arts, which oversees the promotion of culture in the Pacific including preparations for the Festival of Pacific Arts, is meeting this morning at the 10th Festival in American Samoa to select the host country for the 12th festival in 2016.

The meeting has been organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), which provides the secretariat for the council. (Solomon Islands will host the next festival in 2012.)

SPC’s Human Development Programme Manager, Ms Linda Petersen, says the festival is the region’s most important cultural event with all SPC member countries coming together to celebrate their customs and traditions. The event is also an important opportunity to consider the role that culture plays in shaping the future of the region and its people.

Speaking at the festival opening ceremony on Monday on behalf of SPC Director-General, Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Ms Petersen said cultural vitality is key to maintaining and enhancing quality of life. She said that, internationally, culture was increasingly recognised as an essential element of people’s well-being.

Ms Petersen also presented a carving to the Honourable Togiola T. Tulafono, Governor of American Samoa. The carving, which was specially commissioned for the festival, symbolises the festival theme, ‘Su’iga’ula a le Atuvasa’ – threading the Oceania ula).

Meanwhile, the festival is in full swing. Yesterday saw the opening of the festival village just opposite Utulei beach and all day thousands of people, including delighted passengers off a cruise ship that dropped anchor for the day in Pago Pago, thronged to the village where each delegation has a fale displaying its art.

Background information:

Council of Pacific Arts
The Council of Pacific Arts comprises the twenty-two Pacific Island countries and territories that are members of SPC, with the addition of Hawaii, Easter Island and Norfolk Island, and the founding members, Australia and New Zealand.

Symbolism of SPC gift to Governor of American Samoa
A wooden carving was presented to the Honourable Togiola T. Tulafono, Governor of American Samoa, by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) on the occasion of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts, 20 July to 2 August 2008, Pago Pago, American Samoa:

Artist: Jean-Michel Boene, New Caledonia
Materials: Houp wood (Montrouziera cauliflora), crushed glass and shells

The wood of the houp (Montrouziera cauliflora), a tree endemic to New Caledonia, is used to construct the central pillar of a grande case, a traditional Kanak chief’s house.

The carving was commissioned specially for the festival. Its symbolism is based on the festival logo and theme (‘Su’iga’ula a le Atuvasa’ – threading the Oceania ula).

The lower arch at the base of the carving represents the Polynesian canoe of the festival host. Above this, the canoes of the Melanesian and Micronesian visitors curve up on either side to form a second arch.

The short oblique lines above the floats represent the people journeying to the festival across the waters of Oceania – symbolised by the vertical waves encrusted with blue glass. Their intertwined stories rise on the ocean breeze and are carried to dry land on the wings of a sea bird.

When the visitors arrive at the festival, they are greeted by their hosts and presented with ula, symbolised by the wooden loop set with shells that crowns the carving.

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Guests welcomed with traditional ava ceremony and mats
Both men and women, young and old played their respective roles in the official welcome ceremony for delegates to the Tenth Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa yesterday morning.

While the men were busy preparing for the ava ceremony (kava ceremony), the women were getting ready to display their finely woven mats.

Boys and girls also pitched in, taking their place beside their elders to help in welcoming guests to their shores.Despite a downpour during the ceremony, the beautiful array of colourful outfits worn by the hosts and different groups from participating countries brightened the ceremony and kept spirits high.
Men in traditional dress took part in the ava ceremony after which women displayed their fine weaving.

As is the tradition, the first cup of ava was poured on the ground to mark appreciation and respect for the earth, the provider of wealth and good health. Each guest of honour was presented with a coconut shell filled with ava as a sign of welcome. All the delegations were then offered a dried root of the ava plant as a token of appreciation from the hosts. Wearing traditional American Samoan dress made from woven pandanus, Kalasa Atuatasi, wife of a local matai (chief), led the women’s ceremony with a Samoan chant.

The women proceeded to offer guests gifts of finely woven pandanus mats in an age-old custom called ‘fa’alelega-pepe’. The mats, woven by women from all over the territory, were presented to each participating country as a mark of respect and welcome. Atuatasi said the custom of ‘fa’alelega-pepe’ involves women who weave the fine mats in preparation for a ceremony fit for a king. The finely woven mats used to be the main currency of the people of the land before dollars and cents were introduced.

‘The value of the mats depends on how finely they are woven and how old they are, or how many hands they have passed through. When we present the fine mats we chant in our native tongue, praising the work that has been done and saying thank you for them.’

The tradition of ‘fa’alelega’ is passed from one generation to the next.

Atuatasi says despite not having village societies to help preserve some of these practices, the island is lucky because the government has allocated funds to help preserve customs and traditions.

‘Although there are certain things that change, the value of these mats remains. You can’t avoid change. Some things are replaced with more modern things but the value behind why we continue these customs still remains. The important thing is to keep the value of our cultures intact.’

Work on the mats presented at yesterday’s opening ceremony began four years ago, just after the last Festival of Pacific Arts in Palau in 2004.

‘Because so much time and effort is put into making these mats, there’s a lot of value placed on them and we present them to our guests as a token of our appreciation.’

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Tenth Festival of Pacific Arts begins in Pago Pago
Around 2000 artists from 22 Pacific Island countries and territories will celebrate the official opening of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts tomorrow in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

The festival, which is the Pacific’s largest regional cultural gathering, has brought people together from throughout the Pacific region every four years since 1972. The event is a unique opportunity to promote cultural exchange and regional unity as well as to focus on issues such as changing Pacific identities.

Over the next fortnight, a diverse range of art forms will be showcased at the festival including visual, performing, culinary, literary, and traditional healing arts. Participants will also take part in symposia focusing on arts and culture.   

There is an air of festivity on American Samoa’s main island of Tutuila, where the entire population has turned out to welcome the visitors and people have been applying the finishing touches to colourful decorations. Coconuts, stacked in neat columns and spray painted gold, red, blue, white and yellow adorn the verge in front of houses. Flowers woven into palm fronds decorate roadside posts and shop-front pillars. Garden walls have been freshly painted and signs beside the road welcome visitors to American Samoa and the festival. In the town centre, road workers are busy finishing off a major project.  

Co-Chairperson of the Festival Organising Committee, Mr Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde, says preparing for the festival has strengthened the community’s sense of pride and cultural identity. ‘Everyone is looking forward not only to displaying our own culture, but to sharing the cultures of our Pacific brothers and sisters.’  

Mr Langkilde says that with the help of the local community, the organising committee has managed to overcome major organisational challenges in terms of logistics and budgets. ‘At this point it’s all come together and we’re very proud that we’re ready for the festival. The community has shown support in every way possible and has put out the welcome mat for our visitors.’  

He says the highlight of tomorrow evening’s opening ceremony will be the parade of countries.  

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) plays a supporting role to the host country, including providing interpretation services. SPC’s Human Development Adviser for Culture, Dr Elise Huffer, says the festival is an opportunity to celebrate culture, an integral component of the daily life of Pacific people, and to highlight its contribution to the vitality and well being of contemporary Pacific societies. ‘Culture is the basis of people’s lives and the festival is a unique event that brings the whole region together, allowing countries to share their diverse practices and art forms, and through these express their values. It is an opportunity for renewing past links and for forging future directions, and for intergenerational communication to take place. The symposia also allow for reflection on important contemporary issues such as the protection and promotion of traditional knowledge and expressions of culture, and on how young people can benefit from engaging in cultural activities.’ 

During the festival, the Council of Pacific Arts, the regional body that oversees the promotion of culture in the Pacific, will meet to discuss a range of issues, including where the 12^th Festival will take place in 2016. Solomon Islands will host the 11^th Festival in 2012 and will present a report on its preparations to the Council members. The meeting, convened by SPC, will take place on 23 July. 

During the festival, SPC’s HIV & STI Section, in collaboration with the American Samoan Department of Health and the Festival Organising Committee, will run a Safe Festival campaign called Celebrate arts and culture and respect your health. The campaign aims to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Two thousand backpacks containing factual information on HIV/AIDS, HIV testing, STIs, and safe sex, as well as other health promotion items, are being distributed to delegates through health briefings with each country delegation. Male and female condoms will be available at various festival venues and free, confidential HIV testing will also be offered.

The festival runs until 2 August, although the official closing ceremony will take place on 30 July.

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