More than 12,000 people filled Sir Hubert Murray Stadium last night for the inaugural Meganesia concert, a dynamic musical celebration ahead of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary. The event showcased a blend of traditional and contemporary performances from artists across Papua New Guinea and Australia, reflecting a shared spirit of cultural pride and regional unity. Young PNG talents Desiz and Jarahn thrilled the crowd with energetic sets, representing the rising generation of homegrown music stars. Their performances were met with loud cheers and solidified their growing reputation in the local music scene. Famous names such as Sai Kay and Justin Wellington brought star power to the evening, delivering crowd-favorite hits and engaging thousands in a stadium-wide singalong. Australian indie artist Yirrmal was among the featured international performers, bringing a unique sound to the Meganesia stage and highlighting the cross-cultural collaboration at the heart of the event. In his official address, NCD Governor Powes Parkop praised Meganesia as a milestone moment for national unity. “Meganesia is a celebration of shared heritage, identity, and aspirations,” said Governor Parkop. He thanked the Australian High Commission, NCDC, Amazing Port Moresby, and Gaba Musik for their support, and acknowledged the presence of iconic Australian band Yothu Yindi, which now includes four PNG members. He reflected on PNG’s journey since independence and emphasized the need to honor the past while inspiring future generations through culture and music. Prime Minister James Marape, also present, announced that a similar celebration will take place in September as part of the official PNG50 events. “A similar concert will be held on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of September to honor our artists, culture, and traditional dancers as part of our PNG50 celebrations,” he said. With overwhelming public turnout, cross-border artistic collaboration, and heartfelt leadership support, Meganesia has been hailed as a powerful cultural event setting the tone for the nation’s milestone Independence celebration later this year.