Ten artists and weavers will represent Solomon Islands at the 150th Anniversary of Australian South Sea Islander History commemorations in Australia.
The event marks 150 years since the first South Sea Islanders were taken to Queensland in 1863 by blackbirders and laboured to establish the Bundaberg sugar industry and other industries in Australia, including cotton.
The Australian South Sea Islanders are descendants of those who arrived on ships in the 19th century and are predominantly from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Torres Straits.
The Solomon Islands team left the country Tuesday to take part in the anniversary which will start this weekend and end on August 20.
Team Coordinator John Utukana said that the team will include eight men and two women.
He said the artists and weavers were invited by Solomon Islands descendants in Australian to teach them about Solomon Islands cultures and skills.
The team co-ordinator said his small delegation hopes to promote the skills and cultures of Solomon Islands to Solomon descendants in Australia.
Source: http://www.islandsbusiness.com/