Ni-Vanuatu

Ni-Vanuatu
Ni-Van

A young Ni-Vanuatu boy.
Total population
c. 300,000
Regions with significant populations
Vanuatu     c. 270,000
Languages
English, French, Bislama, over 100 Oceanic languages
Religion
Christian (Presbyterian, Anglican, Roman Catholic), Animism
Related ethnic groups
other Melanesian peoples

Ni-Vanuatu (informally abbreviated Ni-Van) is a large group of closely related Melanesian ethnic groups native to the island country of Vanuatu. As such, Ni-Vanuatu are a mixed ethnolinguistic group with a shared ethnogenesis that speak a multitude of languages.^[1][2][3][4]

Ni-Vanuatu or Ni-Van is usually restricted to the indigenous population of Vanuatu. It contrasts with the demonym Vanuatuan, which in principle refers to any citizen of Vanuatu, regardless of their origin or ethnicity. (The form Vanuatuan is in fact rarely used in English, and is regarded as incorrect by some authors and style guides.^[5][6][7])

Due to the history of British and French colonialism, indigenous people of Vanuatu generally speak English and French as well as Bislama.^[8]

The cultural aspects of Ni-Vanuatu society have been instilled on the indigenous community and are expressed through clothing, rituals, ceremonies, music, performing and fine arts, and cuisine.^[9] The spiritual ties Ni-Vanuatu have with their land and ancestors are conveyed through these traditions and some of these remaining artefacts have been preserved and displayed in galleries of Vanuatu.