People of Vanuatu

One of the culturally most diverse countries in the world, Vanuatu is home to people from geographical areas as varied as Europe, Vietnam and China. Vanuatu’s population is 94% Melanesian (Ni-Vanuatu); however more than 115 distinct dialects are spoken on these Pacific islands, as each tribal group has its own unique identity, customs and arts.

The rest of the populace includes Europeans, reflecting Vanuatu’s colourful colonial past, Vietnamese, Chinese and other indigenous Pacific islanders who are the descendants of early indentured labourers. Till 1980, Vanuatu was administered by France and Great Britain as a ‘Condominium’. Consequently French and English are spoken in Vanuatu, by the locals along with the indigenous Bislama, a pidgin language modelled on English.

Over 40% of the 190,000 people inhabiting this country is younger than 15. But their life span of 61 years is relatively short.

Education in Vanuatu, when compared to that in the other Pacific island nations is pretty expensive and is often physically inaccessible to children, particularly those in remote rural districts. Only 61% of children reach class five level at primary school and only 20% graduate to high school. The majority of Vanuatuans are Christians, but a small minority still adhere to local animistic beliefs. Christians in Vanuatu mainly belong to the Presbyterian, Anglican and Catholic Churches.

The Vanuatuan population comprises mostly Melanesian tribes – the black people of the Western Pacific with ties to Papuans and Australian Aborigines – Polynesians, the lighter complexioned race of the Eastern Pacific. Around 80% of the indigenous population in Vanuatu dwells in rural villages and their main pursuit is agriculture. Yams, manioc and taro root are the staple crops and Laplap, a stodgy paste of ground manioc, taro or yam with wild spinach and grated coconut baked in an underground oven, is the country’s national dish

Some islands in Vanuatu like Malekula and Ambrym are inhabited by a few of the last truly primitive peoples on earth. Tanna, which is just an hour by air from Port Vila is home to the ‘John Frum’ Cargo Cult folk. Owing to insurmountable natural barriers like mountains and straits, individual groups of islanders, in due course of time evolved their own distinct cultures and languages.

Source: Vanuatu.net.vu