Ni-Vanuatu name

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ni-Vanuatu names are the names used by the people of Vanuatu, who are commonly known as ni-Vanuatu. Under the law of Vanuatu, a child's name registered at birth should include "the family name, the Christian name, if any, and the Melanesian individual name", the latter of which is also known as a "traditional name" or "custom name".[1][2]

Naming customs differ between the various islands which comprise Vanuatu. The decision whether to give a child a custom name and/or "foreign name" may be tied to the parents' expectations of the child's future life path: whether he would remain in his village and inherit his ancestors' property and social roles, or whether he would leave to pursue a career elsewhere.[3] Dickinson Tevi of the Mama Graon Project has expressed concerns that due to Western influence, the use of traditional names is dying out; he described traditional names as a vital link between children and their cultures and customs.[4]

Traditional names may be given at birth,

custom land, as custom names are also sometimes tied to toponymy.[7] For example, in central and southern Vanuatu, men's custom names make reference to the place where their clan's founding ancestors first appeared, known in Bislama as stamba.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Civil Status (Registration) Act [Cap 61]". Vanuatu Consolidated Legislation. Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute. 1988. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  2. ^ a b "Country Analysis: Vanuatu". Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1999-02-05. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  3. .
  4. ^ "Mama Graon Director warns customs dying". Vanuatu Daily Post. 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  5. ^ "Kilman gets invite from Malekula's Council of Chiefs". Vanuatu Daily Post. 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  6. ^ Ligo, Godwin (2012-05-10). "President's traditional name removed". Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  7. ^ Garae, Len (2012-02-14). "How Ambaean is named Tasso". Vanuatu Daily Post. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  8. .

Further reading