Vanuatu: The Music Tradition of West Futuna

Vanuatu, a small island nation, is located approximately 1800 miles north of New Zealand. Composed of 82 small islands (65 of which are inhabited), Vanuatu was initially under Spanish, then French, and finally British rule before the archipelago became an independent nation in 1980.  Its name signifies its newfound status: vanua (“land,” “home”), and tu(“stand”). The island of West Futuna is located on the southeastern edge of the archipelago, with five villages and a population of about 500.

The lively music of West Futuna shows signs of Western influence with distinctive local twists, such as lyrics in a Pidgin English varietal called Bislama and use of the bottle piano: a scale of glass bottles filled with different levels of water to produce different pitches. The music commonly features other popular Polynesian elements, such as ukulele, guitar, and hymn singing, brought over by 19th century missionaries. This album includes contemporary songs, church music, tagi (memorial songs), traditional dances, children’s games, and malaria and AIDS awareness songs.

Track Listing

101	Time afternoon emi come (The Kava Song)	Fatu'ana	03:57
102	Prevention emi key (The Health Song)	Fatu'ana	04:23
103	Yes home bilong me the Pacific	Fatu'ana	04:20
104	Nonofo avau ita kera nei	Fatu'ana	03:07
105	No 77 (Futuna Hymn Book)	n/a	03:47
106	No 62	n/a	03:46
107	No 17 (New Life Hymn Book III)	n/a	04:53
108	Pohpokiga	n/a	02:12
109	Hgororagina	n/a	02:04
110	Bau	Numania and Nijai	01:50
111	Kaimata 'Hake mairuea'	Kuatoga	01:53
112	Toka Sorea 'Yanasea'	n/a	02:40
113	Kafa	n/a	01:48
114	Tukutuku	n/a	01:10
115	Children's Games: Tukutuku / Wai Jijika / Nigi Nigi Tona / Parepare Paresa / Rougasau / Sili Tafe	n/a	04:58
116	Matuku / Majijiki	Saola, Naparau	00:38
117	Tagi for Vakesa 'Vau nokomanu'	Numania	01:10
118	Le rofakea (The Fiji Song)	Kalanu and Vakesa	01:08
119	Taafe tiata itoga (The Queensland Song)	Saola	04:03