Waiben (Thursday Island) burst into colour, sound and movement this week as the Winds of Zenadth Festival returned, a biennial celebration of Torres Strait Islander culture, language, and identity.
This year’s theme 'Connecting, Past, Present & Future' brought together hundreds of people from across the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area.
Over four days, visitors and locals shared in music, dance, traditional storytelling, and cultural activities that connect generations and strengthen community ties.
The festival is deeply tied to the environment and cultural rhythms of the Torres Strait.
It coincides with the annual shift in winds, from the south-east trade winds, known locally as Sager to the north-east winds, Nager.
For generations, this natural transition signalled a time for important gatherings, ceremonies, and initiation for young men. Today, it remains a powerful cultural marker symbolising change, connection and renewal.
Throughout the festival, Waiben hosted a packed program featuring traditional dance performances from island groups across the Torres Strait, cultural workshops, storytelling sessions led by Elders, and community feasts and markets highlighting local cuisine and produce.
The festival also included events at community hubs, schools, and the aged care centre, ensuring people of all ages can participate.
Honouring a visionary
The Winds of Zenadth Festival has its roots in the first Torres Strait Cultural Festival, held in 1987.
Founded by respected community leader and linguist Adhi Ephraim Bani, the event was created to reconnect island communities with their cultural roots and revitalise language, dance, and traditions that had been at risk of being lost.
Ephraim Bani’s vision was to create a gathering that would unite the islands, preserve traditional knowledge, and pass on songs, stories, and cultural practices to future generations.
His legacy lives on in every performance and activity that takes place during the festival.
Now held every two years, the Winds of Zenadth Festival has grown into one of the most important cultural gatherings in the Torres Strait.
It draws visitors, performers, and cultural leaders from across the region and beyond, strengthening connections both within the islands and with the wider world.
Organisers say this year’s theme was reflected not only in performances but in the conversations and relationships forged during the four days.
From Elders to youth, the festival is a living example of culture being shared, adapted, and celebrated across generations.
For many attendees, the festival is more than an event, it’s a homecoming.
Families reunite, old friends reconnect, and new bonds are formed under the island skies, with the beat of the drums carrying stories that have travelled across the sea for centuries.
The Winds of Zenadth
· Where: Waiben (Thursday Island), Torres Strait
· When: 16–19 September, every two years
· Theme: Connecting, Past, Present & Future
· First held: 1987
· Founder: Adhi Ephraim Bani
· Purpose: To preserve, revitalise, and share Torres Strait Islander culture and language
What are Sager and Nager?
· Sager: The south-east trade winds, arriving in the dry season, traditionally a time for fishing and preparing gardens.
· Nager: The north-east winds of the wet season, signalling abundance, travel, and community gatherings. The festival takes place during this seasonal change, marking renewal and cultural connection.
