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Ambrym Island is considered to be Vanuatu’s sorcery centre, famous for its black magic.
It hosts some of the most exciting and unusual festivals in Vanuatu.
Local tour specialist Malampa Travel said there are three upcoming festivals that people should not miss.
They are the Yam and Magic (YM), and the Back to My Roots (BTMR) Festival at Olal village, and Rom dance (RD) festival in Fanla Village – both taking place in North Ambrym.
Speaking to the Independent this week, Chief Joacsin Sekor responsible for the YM and BTMR festival said that the festivals only happen once a year.
“The YM festival is an annual two days and is especially about yam,” he said. “This is a time where all yams are being harvested and brought together for a special yam dance.
“There are many kinds of yams and you will get to hear stories of how yam is planted, how many yams were being planted and also witness custom dances, watch demonstrations of intricate sand drawing and encounter different kinds of ritual magic.”
Freddy Roromial, the main organiser for the RD festival in Fanla, said the festival usually takes place once a year.
“The participants dancing in the RD is more than 10 and is mainly the villagers take part in that,” he said.
“Anyone interested in wanting to be part of this festival is welcome to join; the normal age for dancing is 18 years upwards.
“There are four of us in Fanla who will be currently working on the masks by the end of May to prepare for July.”
Mr Roromial said the Rom dance is an initiation dance used in the grade taking ceremonies called Maghe, to enable advancement to higher levels within the tribal social structure. It is traditionally performed for ceremonies like circumcisions, appointments of chiefs, the yam harvest, etc.
He said this dance is not just a show but a real ceremony.
“These will be a festival for two days, July 21-22,” he said.
“On the first day there will be many activities like the traditional bamboo music, mouth organ playing, traditional cooking, weaving demonstrations and powerful magic. The second day is for the official RD.”
Chief Sekor said the BTMR festival normally happens over three days.
“The festival is on August 25-27 and there are many different kinds of custom dances like the Namangi dance or the women custom dances,” he said.
“The dances are all different from each other and there are also other interesting activities taking place like the tam tam drumming, magic shows, flute demonstrations and traditional sand drawings.
“The festival ends with a highlight of the entire festival which is the signatory dance of Ambrym, the RD.”
Photo: Rom dance (RD) festival in Fanla Village (The festival features welcoming custom dances, tam tam drumming, magic shows, flute demonstrations and sand drawings)