| What is a Nakamal? |
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The word Nakamal is bandied around plenty in the kava scene, but a lot of people don't really understand what it is, or its cultural significance.
In Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu where VKS is based, there are a lot of “nakamals" where people go to buy kava, but these are primarily commercial entities and are really "kava bars". These are frequented by urban ni-vanuatu and ex-pats and are very much a social event without being a truly custom Vanuatu cultural experience. In saying that we strongly recommend that if you come to Vanuatu you head on down to a kava bar and have some shells and getting chatting with the locals. The kava bar experience is essential to any trip to Vanuatu and a good way to meet the locals in their own environment.
A true Nakamal is an area where the men from a village gather to drink kava after a working day. Traditional nakamals are a men’s only domain and many islands, such as Tanna, still hold true to not allowing women or children even close to a nakamal.
Held under a large tree or “lean to", the men from the village gather to talk about current issues, whether they are political or otherwise. Often the chief will use this time to mediate and or make judgment on village disputes. This method of mediation and reconciliation - if an issue has reached a high level of conflict - has lead to Vanuatu being very peaceful, especially when compared to it Melanesian neighbors.
For more information on traditional nakamals, stop into the Vanuatu Kultural Senta if you come to Port Vila. It is a great source of Vanuatu kastom information and they might just give you the heads up on where to go to experience the true nakamal experience.
Going to a village nakamal can be an enlightening experience. If you travel to the outer islands of Vanuatu you might just be invited to one, just don’t be offended if you are asked not to bring the missus and kids!
Thanks
The Vanuatu Kava Store Team
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