On this Page:

• Summary
• Short History
• People and Society
• Customs and tradition
• Media and Internet

Summary

The Republic of Vanuatu is a Y-shaped archipelago consisting of 83 islands, 65 of which are inhabited. There are 13 principal islands and 70 smaller ones. The island chain is located approximately 800km west of Fiji and 1,770km East of Australia. Most Islands are volcanic in origin and include rugged mountains and lush dense rainforests. The highest point is Tabwemasana (1,879m) located on the northern island of Esperitu Santo.

Vanuatu has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season. It is considered one of the world’s most at-risk nations for natural disasters including volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, cyclones, and regular flooding and drought. In 2015, Tropical Cyclone Pam caused widespread damage to 22 islands. 166,000 people (two thirds of the population) required urgent humanitarian assistance. Severe weather events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity, threatening social and economic progress.

Short History

Melanesians were the first people to inhabit the islands with artifacts dating back to 1300 BC. The first European to Discover Vanuatu’s main Island was Portuguese explorer, Pedro Fenandez de Queiros in 1606. At the time, he thought he had discovered the great southern continent, Terra Australis (Australia). He was followed over a century later by French explorer Louis-Antione Bougainville in 1768. Six years later, Captain James Cook mapped the island group and named them The New Hebrides. This became the official name until July 30, 1980, when Vanuatu gained independence.

By 1850 the islands had attracted many plantation growers from Australia (under British rule) and France. By the end of the decade almost thirty percent of all arable land was foreign owned with profits going overseas. Cotton was grown initially; however, coconuts, bananas, cocoa, and coffee were much more profitable. In the 1860s, almost half of the male population of Vanuatu were indentured to work abroad in Australia, New Caledonia, and Fiji in a labour trade known as ‘blackbirding’ (the coercion of people through deception or kidnapping to work in slave-like conditions). At the same time, missionaries were also arriving on the islands, promoting Christianity and the Western way of life.

During WWII, Vanuatu became an important staging ground for the American Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific, with approximately 10,000 Vanuatu men employed by the United Stated Armed Forces to provide logistical support. This Allied presence helped to unite villages and galvanise a growing political resistance movement. Throughout the 1960s, tensions continued to grow between the local population and their colonial rulers with land ownership being the most contentious issue. Local custom was to hold the land in trust for future generations while Europeans viewed ownership as more of a commodity that could be bought and sold.

In 1979, foreign owners were dispossessed of their land and compensated by their own governments. Since independence, only Kastom owners (cultural custodians) and the Government can own land; however, foreigners are able to purchase property through a leasehold system for up to 75 years.

People and Society

The population of Vanuatu is 342,000 (2024). Port Vila is the capital and largest city with about 61,400 people (2024). Three quarters of the population live in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming. There are over 110 indigenous languages spoken throughout Vanuatu making it the highest linguistic density per capita of anywhere in the world. The three official languages are Bislama (a form of Pidgin English with Spanish and French influences), English, and French.

Vanuatu has a diverse culture owing to its Melanesian and Polynesian ancestry combined with British and French influences. The collective term for the indigenous population of Vanuatu spanning across the island group is called Ni Vanuatu or Ni Van. Culturally, Ni Van traditions are expressed through clothing, rituals, ceremonies, music, performing and fine arts, and food.

Christianity has had a profound influence on Ni-Vanuatu society. Most of the population are either Catholic or Protestant and attend church on a weekly basis. Meetings, workshops, and sports sessions commonly begin and end with a prayer. While there are many aspects of culture that span from north to south, the southern islands have adopted a more Western way of living.

As is common with Melanesian and Polynesian societies, Village chiefs still hold considerable authority although they do not have a formal role in the legislature process. Land ownership is a politically charged issue with many disputes arising between local groups about traditional land rights. Men generally have a higher social status than woman and have greater control over various aspects of living such as the division of property and marriage. Most marriages are arranged with the wife moving in with the husband’s family. In some cases, the husband’s sister will move in with the wife’s family as an exchange. There are very low participation rates for women in all levels of politics and over two thirds of women have reported experiencing some form of gender-based violence.

There is a notable division along British and French linguistic lines especially regarding education and employment. French cultural influences remain strong and are evident in the French wine, cheese, and cuisine available locally. However, the number of English speakers is on the rise.

Corruption is a systemic problem that has created social inequality and is threatening future growth and development. Politicians are known for dispensing money and ensuring material benefits to their constituents in exchange for their support. This is widely seen by the elite as a legitimate means of obtaining status and influence.

Customs and traditions

Land Driving (Nanggol)

Nanggol, otherwise known as land diving, is a rite of passage for the men of the southern part of Pentecost Island. It's famous as the inspiration for modern-day bungee jumping. Men jump off wooden towers around 20 to 30 metres high, with two tree vines wrapped around their ankles. This peculiar ritual is based on the legend of a woman who ran away from her husband. During her escape, she used vines to jump from a cliff to get away. Her husband followed over the cliff; however, he didn’t attach the vines and died at the bottom. Woman once performed the ritual to celebrate the wife’s bravery, but it is now a male only practice.

Land diving is a ritual associated with the annual yam harvest. It is performed annually in the months of April, May, or June. It is also considered an expression of masculinity. Those who refuse to dive are humiliated as cowards. Before dawn on the day of the ceremony, the men undergo a ritual wash, anoint coconut oil on themselves, and decorate their bodies. They wear traditional nambas (loin sheath) and boar tusks around their necks. The women wear traditional grass dresses and sing songs at the bottom of the tower to provide emotional support.

Kava

Kava, a derivative of the pepper tree family, is a significant part of Vanuatu culture and has been used for ceremonial and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Traditionally the root is cut and chewed into a pulp, then spit into a bowl. The mushy pulp is then squeezed into a liquid that is drunk. Kava is known to have a calming effect on the mind and body with some users claiming it’s the closest thing to a natural tranquilizer. Traditionally Kava would be served from a ‘tanoa’ (large size wooden bowl) and given to guests at ceremonies and gatherings. Now there a many Kava bars, that serve to men and women, particularly in urban areas. 

For further information on Vanuatu history and culture, see the resources below:

Podcasts

1. The Nation of Vanuatu, Everything Everywhere Daily (15m)
2. A Small Island Nation’s Climate Challenge (38m) 
3. Million Dollar Point (13m 32s)
4. Vanuatu’s women cricketers out to make their mark on T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi (9m)

Articles

1. Chapter 2 – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
2. Vanuatu Country Profile - DFAT
3. Vanuatu Country Profile – BBC
4. Vanuatu Country Profile – The World Factbook - CIA
5. Culture of Vanuatu - history, people, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social, marriage (everyculture.com)
6. Tropical Cyclone Pam: Vanuatu devastated by one of the strongest tropical cyclones in Pacific; at least eight dead - ABC News

Media and Internet

The media sector in Vanuatu is small; with only two mainstream media outlets. Facebook is the dominant, if not the only, news source for many. The state-owned Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) reports in Bislama on Television Blong Vanuatu, Radio Vanuatu, and online. The English-language Vanuatu Daily Post is the only print publication, and it circulates about 3,000 copies daily on the main island of Efate. Privately owned, it also operates two FM radio stations: Buzz and Capital FM107. Internet in Vanuatu tends to be slow, particularly in remote areas where it is known for dropping in and out of reception.

For further reading on Vanuatu’s Media and the Internet see the resources below:

Articles:

1. How China is winning the information war in the Pacific | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)
2. 'Attack on the media': Vanuatu newspaper boss has work visa refused | Vanuatu | The Guardian
3. Vanuatu police crack down with arrests over ‘slander’ of MPs accused of breaking Covid lockdown | Vanuatu | The Guardian
4. Vanuatu media embrace PACMAS ‘Fundamentals in Journalism' – ABC International Development