Ni-Vanuatu ( bisl. Ni-vanuatu from fr. Née Vanuatu ) is the collective name of the indigenous population of the Republic of Vanuatu , the New Hebrides archipelago. Relate to the Melanesians .
The number is 142.6 thousand people. It inhabits 67 of the 83 islands of the Vanuatu archipelago, mainly coastal areas. Consist of 115 ethnic groups and peoples. They speak the languages of the South Oceanic sub -branch of the oceanic subzone of the Austronesian family . Linguistic fragmentation is very great, neighboring tribes may not understand each other.
The state language is widespread - bislama ( Creole based on English vocabulary and Melanesian grammar), as well as English and French .
Religion - Christianity of different directions, local cults.
Content
Origin
The ancient population of the archipelago was Papuans . Later they mixed up with the next wave of settlers, Proto-Oceanians, who spoke Austronesian languages .
Traditional economy
The main occupation is slash-and-burn agriculture of the tropical type, on the Anatom - irrigation. The main crops are yams , taro , coconut palm, bread and melon trees, pandanus , bananas , sugarcane , rice . Additionally, beans , cocoa , coffee , European vegetables , tropical fruits ( mango , avocado , grapefruit , lemons , pineapples , oranges ) are grown .
Common fishing and gathering seafood. Pigs , chickens , sheep , cats , dogs are bred. Industrial fishing and its export have been established. Sandalwood is being taken out.
Genesis
Settlements - of various layouts. Houses are usually grouped around a village dance square (nasara) with a men's club (nakamali). Houses are frame, pillar, rectangular, with a gable roof to the ground, from mats ( pandanus , palm ). In the north - on a stone platform. Polynesian houses are oval. Gardens - with fences .
Food - baked taro, yams, boiled rice, meat , fish. It is cooked in earthen ovens, on hot stones, wrapping food in banana leaves. Use coconut oil. A widespread paw-paw dish is grated tubers with butter casserole.
Clothing - fallocrypts from grass or narrow mats in men (“fig leaf”). Women wear skirts made of mats, loincloths, aprons. Tattoo , coloring, decoration are characteristic. Typical jewelry is bead bracelets , wild boar fang necklaces , bamboo crests, feather plumes , pendants, and nose inserts.
Crafts - tapas made from bast banana or breadfruit, pottery, woodcarving. Masks, funerary statues (rambars), and dugout boats are decorated with carvings.
From weapons used bows and arrows, spears , darts , harpoons , clubs , slings , protective bracelets.
Folklore is rich.
Public Relations
Social organization is different. In the south - a system of chiefdoms with inheritance of title and status . In the north - hierarchical rank unions of men, each redeemed its own rank . They paid with shells, pigs, etc. Men were leaders, there were male secret unions, sukva , tamate , quat , etc. The family was monogamous , but polygyny of up to 25 wives was allowed.
Literature
- Encyclopedia " Peoples and religions of the world ", M. - 1998.
- M.V. Kryukov. This mysterious island of Eromanga, M.-1989.
- Folko Kuilichi. Ocean, M.-1976.