Bridge across the centuries. A tribute to the people of Papua New Guinea

A new Anniversary book “Life between two worlds. Papuans of the Maclay Coast”, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Papua New Guinea independence, opens the door to advancing scientific and cultural projects in the largest island nation of Oceania.

During a business trip to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, in October-November 2025, Nickolay Miklouho-Maclay Jr., a Russian scholar, PhD, Director of the Miklouho-Maclay Foundation, presented the new book at a meeting with the Prime Minister James Marape.

The book, published in September 2025 and approved for publication by the Academic Council of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, contains a wealth of factual material collected during field research by Russian scientists in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The book is published in Russian and is intended primarily for an international Russian-speaking audience. An English-language version is expected to be released in 2026, which will make the book widely available worldwide.

In his address to the Prime Minister, Nickolay Miklouho-Maclay Jr. underscored the symbolic significance of handing over the book in the nation’s “golden jubilee” year:

“This book is more than a scientific work; it is a tribute to the people of the Maclay Coast. Its place is here, in the heart of Papua New Guinea”.

“This book, which unites the past and the present, unites our history, in which Nikolay Miklouho-Maclay (1846-1888) plays a significant role for the people. This is a gift to the cultural future of Papua New Guinea,” said James Marape.

The Prime Minister thanked Russian scholar Nickolay Miklouho-Maclay Jr., calling him an Honorary Citizen of Papua New Guinea.

It is worth noting the special meetings with the Maclay Coast villagers. The author showed them the book in which many of them could find their photos and stories.

The handing out the book is an important contribution to the strengthening of historical and cultural ties between Russia and Papua New Guinea.