Vanuatu Cultural Hub

09/08/2025

PM NAPAT IGNITES FIRST VOLCANO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN TANNA

“Against the fiery backdrop of Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu’s leader declares Tanna the nation’s Cultural Hub and pledges an annual celebration of music, tourism, and tradition.”

With Yasur Volcano as the backdrop, Prime Minister Jotham Napat today launched Vanuatu’s first-ever Music Festival on the Siwi Ash Plains, White Sands, Tanna – a bold celebration of culture, talent, and tourism.
The Prime Minister declared Tanna and Tafea Province as Vanuatu’s Cultural Hub, and this festival integrate chiefs’ cultural insights into national policy. “Government is here to complement, not replace, the role of chiefs in guiding communities,” he said.
He also drew a parallel between modern music and traditional singing, stating that both are equally important forms of cultural expression – music being a “universal language” that unites people.
Hosting the festival at the foot of the Yasur Volcano was, he said, a fitting choice to draw both local pride and international attention.
Prime Minister Napat said the festival can also boost tourism and inspire youth in our communities.
He thanked the chiefs and people of East Tanna for hosting the event alongside the 5th National Arts & Culture Festival in West Tanna.



Arts & Culture Festival 2025

05/08/2025

In alignment with efforts to preserve and conserve our valuable traditional knowledge, skills, wisdom, cultural values, and principles, the government has endorsed the Cultural Hub Forum to be held here on Tanna Island. The Council of Ministers has made a policy decision as a commitment to implement SOC 1.4 of NSDP 2030: Strengthening the links between traditional and formal governance systems.
The Cultural Hub Forum is designed as a platform for dialogue and collaboration between formal governance systems, traditional leadership structures, and stewardship of resources. The forum will be divided into mini-forums, held in 5 Area Councils of Tanna Island on August 6th and 7th, to serve as platforms for exploring the connection between formal and traditional Governance frameworks for integrated management.
Recognizing the importance of cultural identity and modern governance, the forum will bring together subject matter experts, both traditional and formal, and community leaders to develop integrated governance strategies for Area Councils of each province, beginning with the Tafea Province, as the declared National Cultural Hub of Vanuatu.
The Resolutions will be later translated into implementable Area Councils Strategic Action Priorities of 2026-2030. It is anticipated that some resolutions will be addressed or implemented at the Provincial Government level.
This bottom-up, integrative, and collective planning model is being implemented and could potentially be replicated in other provinces. The Area Councils' Strategic Action Priorities that follow will provide the foundation for the government to justify the need for a One-Plan, One-Budget decentralization approach required to meet development needs across all provinces in order to realize the NSDP vision – a stable, sustainable, and prosperous Vanuatu built on local culture.

01/08/2025

31/07/2025

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22/07/2025

13/07/2025

'Walking' of the yam and Taro

In Tafea Province, Vanuatu, the cultivation of yam and taro is deeply intertwined with societal leadership and environmental stewardship. On the island of Tanna, for instance, yam is revered as the "captain" of the niko or environmental "ship," dictating the seasons and guiding agricultural practices.
The traditional farming calendar is closely tied to the growth cycle of yam, with planting occurring at the end of the dry season to harness the rainy months from November to April. Harvesting takes place from May to October, during the dry season, when festivities are held to celebrate the new yam harvest. This seasonal rhythm supports sustainable farming and responsible consumption.
The traditional road systems of Tanna, including Namananup, Namategeu, and Kotaren, represent societal structures vital for governance and trade. The new yam harvest is celebrated at the 'Imalum' (meeting place) on the fertile Namategeu road, where the tribal council, including the Ieni Niko or tribal "captain," convenes.
Yams embody masculine virtues and leadership, celebrated through planting rituals that mark boys' rites of passage. Taro, known as the "mother" of crops, symbolizes feminine virtues and is valued for its nurturing qualities. The balanced relationship between masculinity and femininity is vital for sustainable development, and culture teaches us the importance of this balance.

The Vanuatu government, under Society Pillar 1.4 of the NSDP, aims to strengthen traditional and formal governance systems. The upcoming Arts and Culture Festival in Tanna will bring together these two systems, represented by the yam and taro, to promote sustainable development and cultural preservation.

By embracing traditional knowledge and practices, Tafea can promote sustainable development and preserve its cultural heritage through the proposed Cultural Hub.