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Pentecost is an island on which custom
traditions are very much alive. In the north the people are anglican and
in the centre, around Melsisi, they are all catholics. The custom and
culture are totally different in the south (where the Nagol is
practised) from the north (where it is not). Kava "blong
Pentecost", a traditional drink made from the root of a pepper
plant, is supposed to be the best in Vanuatu.
The country's most remarkable custom comes from
Pentecost. It is the land diving called Nagol by the islanders. Every
year in April, when the first yam crop is ready, the islanders on the
south of the island start building a huge tower for the land diving. It
will take about 5 weeks to build, all materials come from the forest:
lianas, branches, trunks.... Eventually a wooden tower between 20 to 30
meters high is erected. On several occasions between April and May, boys
and men will jump from these structures with two long vines attached to
their ankles to break their fall. Each diver must select his own vine.
Its size is of utmost importance and if it is only 10 cm too long, the
diver could hit the ground and possibly break his neck on the ground.
The jump is made to ensure a great yam harvest
the following year. Young boys learn diving by playing and practising
their jumps from rocks over the ocean, or from small towers. They will
only be allowed to take part in the Nagol after circumcision, at the age
of seven or eight.
Sand drawing : Pentecost, Ambae, Ambrym and
Maewo share this unique custom form of art, which consists in
hand-drawing symbolic figures on the sand in one uninterrupted movement,
without lifting one's finger.
The nice village Melsisi is perched on a hill,
it overlooks a long, sandy beach.
A new road is being built across the mountain
to join the east coast and the west coast in the southern part of the
island.
Maewo
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A very thin and rugged island
stretching 56 km, the mountaineous central chain and the south eastern
coast are good places for bird-watching. Both coastlines are covered
with black sand beaches. Most of the islanders live on the sheltered
west coast. Maewo receives the largest amount of rain in Vanuatu and has
some of the most beautiful waterfalls. Maewo is famous for its ancient secret
societies. Magic is performed almost as much as in Ambrym and the
sorcerers claim to be even more skilled. Some traditional dances
performed by men are tabu for women. They must not see any of the dances
and the dancing ground will remain forbidden for some time after the
dance. In return, the women have their own dances which cannot be seen
by men. Visitors will face the same fate.
For
more general information
on Vanuatu to: |
