Vanuatu¶

Area

Oceania/Australia

The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific, made up of over 80 small volcanic islands (some of them still active). It is believed that people first inhabited the islands about 4,000 years ago, and was first discovered by Europeans in the early 17th century. In the 19th century French and British interests eventually lead to a unique form of government that saw both countries controlling it together (known as the New Hebrides). The native Melanesians were barred from citizenship in either country.

Things changed with the arrival of Americans during World War II, who inspired the rise of nationalism. The belief in a mythical figure named John Frum was the basis for an indigenous Cargo Cult and today "John Frum" is both a religion and a political party. In 1980, France and Britain agreed to grant independence, and after the Coconut War, the Repbulic of Vanuatu was created.

Vanuatu maintains strong cultural diversity. In one of the main cultural regions in the north, wealth is established by how much one can give away.

Vanuata on Wikipedia