The Bislama language of Vanuatu is about to have its very first awareness week in the Bay of Plenty – and the community is ready for week-long celebrations from July 27- August 2.
On Sunday, the Ni-Vanuatu Bay of Plenty Association will host the first Bislama Language Week and celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vanuatu independence with cultural performances, traditional dances, live music, storytelling and more.
Bislama is one of the three official languages in Vanuatu, alongside English and French, and came about in the time of blackbirding in the mid-1800s, where people were taken from the Solomons, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu to Australia to work in the sugar cane fields, said event organiser Roxy Burt.
“They needed to come up with a language that they could all understand. Over time, it developed and then it was brought back to Vanuatu,” said the Ni-Vanuatu Bay of Plenty Association member.
“It became known as the language used for trading.”
The language had grown and evolved and now there are similar versions across Melanesia. “We all understand each other,” Burt said.
The language is now called Wantok, Burt said. “It means we all speak the same language. We call it the language that unites us.”
In celebration of the language and 45 years of Vanuatu independence, the association had organised a week-long celebration with activities and entertainment for the whole Bay of Plenty community to enjoy.
Starting this Sunday, at 9am, the association will host an official opening celebration at the Pāpāmoa Sports & Recreation Centre, which the community is welcome to attend
On Monday and Tuesday, July 28-29, representatives of the association will visit local schools to educate the children of Tauranga about the Bislama language and Vanuatu culture.
Later in the evening on Tuesday, from 7pm, there will be a pandanus weaving exhibition at DMS packhouse on Armstrong Rd, Te Puna.
The Ni-Vanuatu Bay of Plenty Association president, Billy Lop, at the Katikati culture festival. Photo / supplied
The 45th anniversary of Vanuatu’s independence falls on July 30, when a Vanuatu flag-raising ceremony will be held Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Barkes Corner headquarters.
On Thursday, a film screening of Pamdemonium, which explores Vanuatu’s response to Cyclone Pam, will be held at Lifezone Church in Judea.
The Tai o Fenua Kindergarten – a place that nurtures and celebrates Pacific languages, culture and identity – in Tauranga South, where Burt works, will receive a visit from Ni-Vanuatu BOP representatives on August 1.
On August 2, an official closing ceremony and party will be held at Te Puke War Memorial Hall on Jellicoe St from 5pm. Te Ao Marama - Tauranga Library will host an exhibition of historical Ni-Vanuatu artefacts from July 30 onwards
Burt said this first official Bislama language week in New Zealand was a long time coming after years of planning and getting approval from the Ministry of Pacific Peoples.
The week aims to acknowledge and learn about the impacts of climate change, Burt said.
“Climate change is something that’s hitting the Pacific more than any other region in the world and Vanuatu has been at the forefront of advocating for Pacific countries.”
Climate justice advocates in Vanuatu are awaiting a decision by the United Nations for bigger countries to acknowledge that climate change is happening in the islands. Though the Pacific countries are not big contributors to carbon emissions, they’re the ones facing the consequences, said Burt. She said the rising sea levels are cutting away at their land, and crop growth is changing. “It’s at the forefront of our minds because we live off the land.”
Find out more about the week of celebrations at: www.facebook.com/NiVansBOP