Culture in Vanuatu
People & Customs
The people of Vanuatu, a name which means ‘Land Eternal’, are predominantly Melanesian, and call themselves Ni-Vanuatu (meaning ‘of Vanuatu’). Ni-Vanuatu have lived in these islands for centuries and more than 115 distinctly different cultures and languages still thrive here. Vanuatu is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. There are small communities of French, British, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, Chinese and other Pacific Islands people living in harmony with the Ni-Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a traditional society with a distinctive Melanesian cultural heritage. Dances, ceremonies, funerals, weddings, initiations, status and systems of authority, artistic styles, animal and crop husbandry can vary from island to island, and often from district to district on the larger islands.
Traditional Ceremonies In kastom-oriented areas, traditional ceremonies still form an integral part of village life. From the island of Epi northwards, status and power are earned by taking ‘grades’ through the nimangki system. Men show their wealth in elaborate public ceremonies, accompanied by traditional feasting and dancing. Each step up the village social ladder is celebrated with ritual pig killings.
On Pentecost Island, the famous land-diving ceremony celebrates the yam harvest from April to early June. Men and boys dive from wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles, helping to guarantee a good harvest the following year.
The island of Tanna is home to one of Vanuatu’s major cultural events, the Nekowiar. This three-day gift-exchanging ceremony makes a magnificent sight, as up to 2000 participants attempt to out-do each other with their lavish gifts, dancing skills and ornate makeup. Ambrym’s Rom Dance, held every August as part of the grade-taking ceremonies, is another impressive sight. Dancers, who represent spirits, wear a tall, conical painted mask and a cloak of banana leaves to conceal their bodies.
Village Life While life in the larger towns and cities has changed recently, the structure of village life remains pretty much unchanged. Some 80% of people live in rural areas, mostly in small clan-based villages of less than 50 people. Most villages are made up of customary land owned by extended families, and headed by a chief. The chief speaks on behalf of his village, and his word is accepted as law. Families are granted their customary land to occupy and cultivate, but not to sell.
In rural areas, most villagers practise subsistence farming of food crops, supplemented by hunting, gathering and fishing, and sometimes cash cropping. Most villagers wear European-style clothing, however, in kastom villages, traditional costumes, such as grass skirts and nambas (penis coverings), are still worn. In north and central Vanuatu, most villages have a traditional nakamal (village clubhouse or clan hut) where the men meet at sunset. It also houses the clan’s sacred objects. Elsewhere, the nakamal may be an open-ended hut or rough shelter where men meet to talk and drink kava. Visitors should be respectful of places that are tabu (sacred, holy or forbidden). Many tambu (the plural of tabu) relate to private places, nakamals or beaches, and to certain ceremonies. A tabu should be approached with the utmost respect.
Village Protocol
Stick to the road when passing through a village. If you want to enter, wait at the outskirts until approached.
Most land is owned by islanders or their families. If you leave the road and walk on a bush path, ask permission from the first person you meet.
Do not pick fruit from the roadside, as it usually belongs to someone under customary law.
Bathing suits, shorts and skimpy clothes are considered disrespectful in villages. Both men and women should be fully dressed.
Observe local tabu (eg nakamals are generally tabu to women), and if in doubt about protocol, ask first.