In Païta, a newly founded association has set out to keep Indonesian culture alive, particularly Javanese culture: Kumpulan Anak Niaoulis PAÝTA. On 12 October 2026, I photographed its board alongside the mayor of Païta, Antoine Romain, in front of the centenary memorial to the Indonesian presence in New Caledonia, at the town hall. I also took the opportunity to photograph a portrait of its president, Erika Soutart. Here is their story.
Passing on a culture that is fading
It started with an observation. In late 2023, Erika Soutart noticed that the culture, traditions and knowledge handed down by the elders were slowly disappearing. She began sharing recipes and talking about traditions on social media. Her posts struck a chord: others told her they had noticed the same thing.
The association wants to rebuild the ties between the older and younger generations: encouraging exchange, passing on knowledge, sharing life experience, so that everyone can learn from one another. Contact people will be on hand to answer questions, gather needs and pass on everyone’s suggestions.
Its name sums up this double attachment, to Indonesian roots and to the country where its members were born. In Indonesian, kumpulan means “gathering” and anak “child”; the niaouli, a tree emblematic of New Caledonia, is also, colloquially, used for people born in the country. The association signs off its posts with the hashtag #JavanaisNiaoulis.
130 years of Indonesian presence in New Caledonia
The location of the photo is no accident. In front of Païta town hall stands a memorial marking the “centenary of the Indonesian presence in New Caledonia, 16 February 1896 – 16 February 1996”. That day, the first workers from Java, then part of the Dutch East Indies, arrived, recruited for the mines, plantations and public works. In 2026, the community celebrated 130 years since that arrival, and it is in front of this memorial that commemorations are regularly held in Païta.
Erika Soutart, a president who chose to act
A sales professional for fourteen years, Erika Soutart has always loved human contact, exchange and sharing. After the 2024 riots, she changed course and set out as an entrepreneur with a Javanese snack food business. Being an employee and being an entrepreneur are “two different worlds”, she says, each demanding real mental strength when starting from nothing. Out of that experience came the wish to create an association devoted to bringing the generations closer together.
She says it plainly: she is new to running an association, learns something every day, and makes no claim to know it all. But she isn’t alone. For her, the association isn’t one person’s project but teamwork, a space for listening, respect and sharing where everyone can find their place. Her motto fits in one sentence:
“Learn from one another and move forward together.”
Erika Soutart, president of Kumpulan Anak Niaoulis PAÝTA
A six-person board, spanning every generation
The board brings together six members with different backgrounds, experiences and ages. The association sees this as a strength: bringing together ideas and viewpoints to build projects together that meet everyone’s needs.
- President: Erika Soutart
- Vice-president: Evans Cartot
- Secretary: Stéphanie Dradjat
- Assistant secretary: Marine Pellerin
- Treasurer: Andréa Lumbroso
- Assistant treasurer: Rose-May Jouvenelle
In the photo, the board poses alongside Antoine Romain, mayor of Païta since March 2026.
Follow and contact the association
To follow its news or get in touch: Facebook page Association Kumpulan Anak Niaoulis PAÝTA, or by email at association.kanp@gmail.com.
Behind the camera
For the group photo, I chose a slight low angle with a wide-angle lens (24 mm): it brings the faces, the memorial with its dates, and the flags flying under Païta’s blue sky together in a single frame. The crisp morning light brings out the colours of the fabrics and batik patterns. For Erika’s portrait, I did the opposite: an 85 mm at a wide aperture against a white background, so that nothing would distract from the smile.
Do you represent an association, a business or a local authority in Païta, Nouméa or Greater Nouméa? I offer portraits, office and team photos, and event coverage. See examples in the Portraits portfolio and in the article on corporate photography. To discuss your project, get in touch.
Photos: Benjamin FORTE – BFO Photographie.
