About Tanna

Tanna is the most populated island in Tafea Province, almost entirely Melanesian. Most of Tanna's 20,000 inhabitants still closely follow the lifestyle of their ancestors and their customs practiced for hundreds of years.

The principal attraction of Tanna is Mt Yasur, known as the world's most accessible active volcano.

Today Tanna is one of the islands where custom and culture are still very strong. Many villages have turned their backs on modern ways preferring instead their traditional way of life. The Tanna people recognise the importance of their "kastom" and ask that all visitors travel with local guides.

Captain James Cook was the first European to come to Tanna in august 1774, after seeing the glowing light of Mt Yasur volcano in the sky. The HMS Resolution anchored in a small bay in South East Tanna, which he later named Port Resolution. Captain Cook requested permission to climb Mt Yasur volcano, but was refused by the chiefs as it was considered tabu (sacred). The trading era of the 1800's was marked by widespread fighting and tribal warfare. Missionaries also met with difficulties and were quite often killed.

The Jon Frum Movement emerged on Tanna during WWII. While accounts of their formation vary, the movement can be partly explained by the presence and apparent generosity of the American soldiers. With their abundance of radios, Jeeps and Coca-Cola, the Americans would certainly seem mysterious to the Tanna islanders. The Red Cross, a symbol for the medical aid, remains an emblem of the Jon Frum cult even today. Strict adherents follow a traditional lifestyle, wearing only grass skirt or nambas and not participating in any government services (such as public school).

Tanna's land is one of the most productive in Vanuatu and produces Kava, coffee, coconut and many other fruits and vegetables.

Dances and custom ceremonies are held year round. The Toka or Nekowiar ceremony is the most remarkable. The festival lasts three days and the village hosting the ceremony tries to better the previous one in the quantity of food and gifts (pigs, mats etc) offered to the guest villages. A beauty contest takes place where women and men elaborately paint their faces. More than 1000 chief lead Tanna's people. The chiefs form "custom councils" which create and uphold the village laws (pigs and kava are offered in compensation for disputes brought to the custom councils). Many people in Tanna rely solely on traditional plant medicine to treat their illnesses. The local doctors, or kleva, are healers with special abilities to cast spells on enemies.