Who Are the Ni-Vanuatu?
Ni-Vanuatu are the indigenous Melanesian peoples of Vanuatu, numbering approximately 320,000 across 83 islands (65 inhabited). They speak over 100 languages—one of the world's highest language densities per capita. Settlement began 3,000+ years ago with Lapita people; distinct island cultures developed varying practices including the famous land diving of Pentecost, kava drinking, and elaborate pig-killing rituals marking male rank. The nation gained independence in 1980 from joint British-French colonial rule. Vanuatu has strongly emphasized kastom (custom) preservation, ranking among the happiest countries in multiple surveys despite limited GDP.
Land Diving (Naghol)
The Naghol (land diving) of Pentecost Island is Vanuatu's most famous tradition—and the original inspiration for bungee jumping. Men leap from wooden towers (up to 30 meters) with vines tied to their ankles, plunging headfirst toward the ground. Done correctly, divers' heads barely touch the earth. The ritual ensures a good yam harvest, demonstrates manhood, and honors an origin legend about a woman who escaped her abusive husband by jumping. Land diving occurs April-June when vines have proper elasticity; deaths and injuries occur when vines are miscalculated. Tourist presence has commercialized but also preserved this extraordinary practice.
Kava Culture
Kava (called nakamal in Bislama) is central to ni-Vanuatu social and spiritual life. Made from the pounded root of the Piper methysticum plant, this mild sedative drink is consumed daily in nakamal (kava bars) across the nation. Traditional preparation involved chewing the root; modern practice uses grinding. Drinking is ritualized—typically in the evening, in silence until the first shell is finished. Kava creates community bonds, facilitates dispute resolution, and connects with ancestors. Vanuatu produces high-quality kava exported globally; the drink has become an economic product while remaining culturally sacred.
Kastom and Christianity
Vanuatu uniquely emphasizes kastom—traditional custom, law, and practice—as national identity. The constitution recognizes customary law; chiefs retain authority; and many islands maintain traditional practices alongside Christianity. Some communities, particularly on Tanna island, rejected Christianity entirely—the John Frum cargo cult awaits the return of an American who will bring prosperity, while Yaohnanen village famously worshipped Prince Philip. This religious diversity—from traditional animism to various Christian denominations to syncretic movements—demonstrates ni-Vanuatu negotiating modernity on their own terms. Kastom provides identity and resilience.
Contemporary Vanuatu
Independent Vanuatu faces environmental challenges—cyclones (Cyclone Pam in 2015 devastated the nation), volcanic activity, and climate change threatening coastal communities. The economy depends on agriculture, fishing, tourism, and an offshore financial center. Many ni-Vanuatu live subsistence lifestyles in villages while participating selectively in cash economy. Despite ranking low on GDP measures, Vanuatu has scored high on happiness and sustainable development indices. The nation maintains strong kastom while adapting to globalization—how ni-Vanuatu preserve cultural distinctiveness while developing economically exemplifies alternative paths to wellbeing.
References
- Bonnemaison, J. (1994). The Tree and the Canoe: History and Ethnogeography of Tanna
- Lindstrom, L. (1993). Cargo Cult: Strange Stories of Desire from Melanesia and Beyond
- Jolly, M. (1994). Women of the Place: Kastom, Colonialism, and Gender in Vanuatu