Thirty (30) unique masks from Kerema District will be preserved at an Elavo (Haus) after the 20th Toare Mask Festival was successfully staged on the 3rd of August. This year's 20th Toare festival was the first to be included into the National Cultural Commissions Annual Events Calendar and for the first time to be facilitated by the Toare village with the support in facilitation. With the theme for this year “Culture in Pride to promote Peace and Harmony” most preservation of Gulfs Cultural heritage is honoured with the carvings of these masks that represents and tells a different story in each clan, villages in the province. 32 Cultural groups were showcased Infront of tourists, TPA, Total Energies and other dignitaries from both National and the Provincial Government and 30 different masks were displayed. The Mask displayed will then be saved and kept in an Elavo (sacred house) like a mini museum for Tourists to visit in the village. Total Energies Director for Corporate Affairs Richard Kassman stated that he was honoured to have attended the festival. "Total Energies have come on board two times in a row for the company to assist and work towards promoting the culture of this province Gulf.” “Our Cultural heritage is very important to keep our stories, folklore and tales all in this mask festival and history is very important for our younger generations and to withhold the knowledge of this land.” Kassman said they will continue to support as Total Energies is a French company which is one of our key focuses, on promoting and liaising within the communities we work in. Meanwhile, National Cultural Commission Research Manager Alex Puki told the people of Kerema District that this year’s Toare Mask Festival has been placed into their annual national event calendar. “We are proud to support the festival and to showcase the different cultural diversity of Gulf through its designated mask festival.” "We will continue to support the festival because it has been enlisted as a new event into our calendars.” “We encourage the people of Gulf to use this platform as an engine to drive to support and continue to uphold our culture in the province.” Minister for Petroleum and Energies and Kerema Open Member Thomas Opa presented a K20,000 to the organizing committee to boost next year's 21st showcase. Member Opa said he was excited to represent the governor of the province to be with the people to celebrate the event. Opa, while officially launching the ceremony on behalf of Provincial Executive Council, said it is important for the districts to preserve culture and for the people to use the culture and artifacts to tap into Tourism and SMEs soon. The Toare Organizing Committee appreciated and acknowledged this year’s festival boost by major sponsors Gulf Provincial Government with K50 000, K15,000 from Total Energies, National Cultural Commission with K5000 while Kerema District Development Authority (KDDA) presented a K20,000 to run the event smoothly.