The Melanesian archipelago consists of four individual nations; Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The term "Melanesia" was first used by a French explorer, Jules Dumont d'Urville. The Wantok people are known for their mostly peaceful past, despite the presence of almost 70 distinct ethnic groups. This article explores the history, culture and customs of the Wantok natives living in the Melanesian archipelago.
Location
Located in the South Pacific, part of the Melanesian archipelago, Wantoks country is close to the northeastern region of Australia. Melanesia is known for being a chain of archipelagos. It has been extended from Fiji to New Caledonia to Papua New Guinea.
The province is stretched for about a land radius of 10,639 310,000 square kilometers. In addition, the same is extended to approximately a sea border radius of 992 XNUMX square kilometers. The region consists of XNUMX small islands, and covers the second largest area in the chain of Melanesian archipelagos. If you do a little research on the locality, you will find that the climate in the province is equatorial. This is due to being surrounded by the sea on all sides. On some of the mountainous islands in the province, there can also be a lot of rainfall. Interestingly, the coastal areas in the archipelago are often found to be a little drier with much less rainfall.
language
Being multilingual is a common occurrence among the people of the Melanesian archipelago region. In a rough estimate, almost 63 to 70 different languages and dialects are used by the local population. This is because the locality is a melting pot of different cultures. A fun fact about English-speaking Solomon Islanders. The English that the locals speak is called pidgin English. It is a distinct variant of modern English that most of the world uses. While some of the formal places, such as schools, are churches, English may be used as a medium, it is usually a mixture of local languages and pidgin English.
nationalism
The presence of so many different cultures and ethnicities is a beautiful thing. However, it can be a struggle to form a coherent national identity because of the same thing. The representatives of different ethnic groups could not agree on a single decision. This led to the decision to gather who represents the most widespread cultural groups. It is a mixture of characters such as battle spears, a turtle, an eagle, an ice-cold bird, a war shield, a crocodile, a crown, and a shark. Also, a phrase to lead is to serve is found in the coat of arms of the Solomon Islands. Maintaining duty and responsibility through mutual support was the message the founders sought to send through the nation's symbolism.
The story of the Wantok people in the Melanesian archipelago
The first people in the province settled on the largest islands in the archipelago. Local communities then developed agriculture and later animal husbandry for their livelihoods. Of the animal husbandry elements, the pigs played the most important role. As the economy grew, the Solomon Islanders expanded their reach to the oceans. From the lagoons, fishing and ocean-related activities were developed.
First contact
Since the main islands had already been taken over by the first humans, the newcomers began to settle on the outer islands. The immigrant newcomers were Polynesians, who soon became quite good at sea navigation as well as fishing. Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, a Spanish explorer, was the first European to discover the island and make it known to the outside world. He named the islands and wanted to return one day. Mendaña had planned to settle in the Solomon Islands. He eventually returned in 1595. However, he became ill with malaria, which unfortunately led to his death.
For a long time, apart from the Spanish explorers, there was not much contact with the outside world. In 1767, Philip Carteret, an English explorer, visited the islands. This eventually paved the way for traders and whalers in the 19th century. A frequent stream of Europeans arrived one after the other. From missionaries to British government officers, the site was scouted for many purposes. The province lacked coherent management before the British takeover in 1893. In addition, the island was segmented into small tribes that took control of their own small communities. While the Polynesian regions were ruled by monarchs, the same could not be said of Wantoks.
Network of alliances among the Wantok people
Even without the presence of a centralized monarchy, a network of alliances sustained the societies just as well. While there were wars between the tribes, there were marriages that also focused on building alliances. The arrival of Europeans changed it all for the locals. When the British authorities took over, they banned warfare between the tribes. Missionaries preached Christianity to the locals, and the church became mixed with the native culture, displacing their former belief system. Contact with outsiders also opened up the local population to Western culture, and eventually wormed their way through the indigenous culture.
As in the case of most Pacific nations, independence came late to them. The Wantoks did not gain autonomy until 1978. While the transfer of power may have been a peaceful affair, the locals had been very vocal about their need for independence. Furthermore, many movements regarding the same were organized by the natives to regain freedom. The concept of government has never been acceptable to the local population. This was because of their history, which never included any government, but which nevertheless worked well for them. The need for the government was confusing for the locals, for whom they had to pay taxes, who in return did not give them anything significant.
The emergence of national identity among Wantoks
Wantoks did not give importance to the ruling government, but rather the church. The Church's missions worked to connect the various communities through a common thread of religion. Social welfare activities mediated by the Church worked to gain them much goodwill from the local population. The establishment of schools and clinics also helped a lot in communicating their views. The church buildings became places for social gatherings, and subtly mixed people from different communities under the same banner.
Language has always been one of the most important media for connecting people. The emergence of "pidgin English", which served as a local medium of communication in the province with around 70 languages, was an important factor supporting the birth of national identity. It became a glue that bound many different ethnicities, and opened a communication channel.
Wantokisme
A concept that explains the need for common ground and emotions that bind people with different cultural identities. It is a philosophy that correlates with the idea of bringing human differences together by uniting them through a common vision, similarity, cause. It is a concept that goes beyond the differences in nationality and includes people of all origins. This philosophy is followed by the most important nations in the Melanesian archipelagos. Namely the people of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The fighting that drew Wantoks was referred to by them as "war was not our war". However, the same thing worked to bring together people from different communities in the Melanesian archipelago under the cause of similar suffering and patriotism.
Even after having seventy ethnic groups in the same province, it was only the politicization of the ethnicities that led to conflicts and violence. These conflicts did not arise until the latter part of the twentieth century.
The culture of the Wantok people
Holistically speaking, arranged marriages have been the tradition in the Melanesian archipelago. This was not only because of tradition, but because it helped to secure alliances between different tribes. Tribal alliances are largely what keep tribal warfare to a minimum. Most marriages were with people outside the clan. Sometimes, however, in special situations, allowances are given. The Wantoks family were very advanced in their community customs. In fact, they were especially careful not to let close relatives get married. This indicates that they had a good understanding of the after-effects and disorders in the children born to close relatives.
Modernization has also affected Wantoks. While arranged marriages have not stopped happening, people are also free to make their choices. People can choose to get married in court, or also choose to live in. Self-arranged marriages are mostly couples who choose each other with parental blessing.
labels
Respect for women and old people is the main feature of etiquette among Melanesians. For example, you may be forced to pay immediate compensation for disrespect for women or the elderly in Malaita. One of the widespread etiquette associated with the local population is regarding unrelated women. Usually you are meant to look away instead of looking directly at a woman who is not related to you. The penalties are stricter for not respecting the dignity of married women.
But as visitors to their community, you will not be forced to follow their customs. But that does not mean that you should respect the local customs. As a stranger to their customs and traditions, you will not be reviled because you do not know their customs. Instead, if you make a mistake or faux pas, you will be told about the customs and their value to them.
Girls are expected not to show an outward affection for their girlfriends, not in the presence of their relatives (near or far). It appears as a sign of respect for relatives' sensitivity to distance. The guests are highly respected in the local customs. If a guest comes to a native's home, they will first be offered food. Respecting a guest is seen as a sign of shame in one's household.
Religious views of the Wantok people
Belief in ancestral spirits is one of the most important customs among Wantoks. It was a belief that the curse of ancient spirits could be thrown at your enemies. In the same way, it was believed that they could also ask for help from the spirits of their ancestors. The religious belief before the arrival of Church missionaries is called animism. It was a belief based on maintaining a balance between the ecosystem, the spiritual world and itself. Animism dictates that everything contains a spirit of some kind, and it is beneficial to have a balance between all the energies.
The spiritual media varied according to the location of the tribes. Tribes located in coastal regions may regard sharks, rays and octopuses as their totem gods. The tribes located in the inland areas of the islands had their totem gods in the form of crocodiles, eagles, owls and snakes. As in the case of almost all the colonized nations, Church missionaries painted over the ancient belief system of the indigenous people.
At present, almost 90% of the local population's natives are estimated to be Christians.
Rituals
Shrines are usually forbidden to random people. Almost all children are barred from entering shrines. This is to keep them safe from
Shrines are usually forbidden to random people. Almost all children are barred from entering shrines. It is to keep them safe from the angry spirits. It was sacrificed earlier. But for now, the same thing is not happening anymore.
The birth and death of a person are both characterized by festivity in the native customs. The views of the natives regarding life after death are quite hopeful. A person who passes away is not called the end, but rather the soul who takes the next boat. Going on only the next journey of their lives.
In conclusion
The first humans in the Melanesian archipelago are known by their cultural name, Wantoks. They are also known as Melanesians.
Historically, the natives first inhabited the main islands of the archipelago. Starts the journey with agriculture and animal husbandry with a focus on pigs. As migrants continued to come from Polynesian provinces, they inhabited coastal areas. The newcomers were masters of ocean activities, from navigation to fishing.
Indigenous people had a network of alliances among their distinct societies. It should be noted, despite having almost seventy ethnicities, a balance was kept. Then came the Europeans, and the rest is history. As has happened with all indigenous cultures, they fade with time. Christian religions propagated by the missionaries took the place of indigenous cultures. In fact, not everything is lost in the wantok culture. For example, people are still just as respectful of their elders and women. In addition, guests get a lot of respect. If you find a chance to visit, I highly recommend that you visit the Melanesian Archipelago.