Culture Bunlap

1 culture

1.1 clothing
1.2 gol
1.3 agriculture & cultivation
1.4 rites of passage

culture
clothing

traditional clothing still worn many (though not all) villagers. females consists of knee-length skirts made out of fiber strips. ceremonial occasions, ankle-length skirts worn. men wear wide belt around waist, cloth or leaf tube attached. tube worn around penis (reminiscent of penile gourd), while remainder of genitals , buttocks exposed. these garments distinct similar, still differing nambas, worn other indigenous peoples of vanuatu.

villagers form bunlap put on western clothing when travelling outside area.

gol

the bunlap people perform ancient ritual called gol (bislama nanggol) or land diving , in men tie vines ankles , jump headfirst platforms jutting out tower. jumper s fall broken vines, other end of tied tower. sloping surface of softened earth @ base of tower provides protection injury in case of broken vine, vine of incorrect length, or poor jump. gol inspired modern sport of bungee jumping, though vines used far less elastic bungee cords, , gol jumper not bounce @ end of fall. gol legend says in village bunlap man called tamalie had quarrel wife , ran away , climbed banyan tree, wrapped ankles liana vines. when tamalie came her, woman jumped tree , did husband not knowing wife had done. died woman survived. men of bunlap impressed performance , began practise such jumps in case got in similar situation. practice transformed ritual rich yam harvest , proving manhood.

agriculture & cultivation

on interior slopes of island, villagers grow taro, cultivated tropical asian plant (colocasia esculenta) having broad peltate leaves , large starchy edible tuber.

bunlap men consume kava extract @ end of day intoxicating effects, similar alcohol. drink extracted root of kava plant. women forbidden consume kava.

rites of passage

the young boys of tribe circumcised @ age of 5 knife made of bamboo. wound wrapped special leaf make heal faster. men celebrate after circumcising ceremony eating special pie made of yam , coconut , baking on hot stones. after 7 weeks of solitude, boys let out , big ceremony organised. boys circumcised take further step manhood killing each pig in ceremony.