If you’ve ever walked through a village in Vanuatu, chances are you’ve heard the distinctive sound of a stringband drifting through the air: guitars and ukuleles weaving with the deep thump of the homemade one‑string bush bass. This vibrant musical tradition is at the heart of Vanuatu’s cultural identity today—but how did it begin?
Wartime Origins
The story starts during World War II, when the Allied presence in the New Hebrides brought new instruments—guitars, mandolins, and especially ukuleles—into local hands. Ni‑Vanuatu quickly began experimenting with these sounds, blending them with island rhythms and creating something uniquely their own. The bush bass, a simple homemade instrument similar to a tea‑chest bass, became a defining feature.
Rise in the 1960s
By the 1960s, stringbands were spreading across villages and towns like Port Vila and Luganville. These bands became a way for people from different islands to share music and identity in a rapidly changing colonial society. Named groups started to perform at public celebrations, like the Nguna Band at the Queen’s Birthday in 1964.
Radio was crucial, too. “Radio Kavelicolico” and later Radio Vila (1966) regularly played stringband music, helping songs travel beyond local gatherings. A 1967 hit by the Kawenu College String Band was even used in a national census campaign.
Cassette Culture of the 1970s–80s
The cassette boom supercharged stringband popularity. French journalist Gardissat set up the first recording studio in Vanuatu, producing around 150 albums—mostly of stringband groups. These tapes were sold and copied across the islands, reaching even the most remote villages. For the first time, ni‑Vanuatu could hear their own language and stories recorded and replayed at will.
A Piece of Vanuatu Music History Shared on Facebook
Recently, a fascinating story was shared on Facebook about the origins of stringband music in Vanuatu. It tells how, in 1920, a man from Samoa named Tavita Laban jumped off a ship in the New Hebrides, bringing a mandolin with him. After sharing a few bottles of wine with the elders of Nguna and explaining that he had run away for love, he taught the locals how to play the instrument.
This moment sparked the birth of the stringband tradition, with the first group being the Lautano Stringband. The story follows Tavita as he traveled with Tai, the Chief of Blackstone, and eventually met and married in the islands, leaving a legacy through his family and music.
A National Sound
Stringband music is more than entertainment; it became a voice for the people. Lyrics tell stories of everyday life, politics, love, and social changes. Unlike kastom music tied to specific traditions, stringband was pan‑Vanuatu—a unifying sound that helped shape a national identity.
Even today, you’ll find stringbands everywhere—from family gatherings to community events. Groups like the Jipajiroa String Band from Mele village continue to carry the tradition, while younger musicians mix it with reggae, pop, and modern beats.
Why It Matters
Stringband music began as a wartime encounter with foreign instruments, but ni‑Vanuatu transformed it into something proudly local. Over decades, through radio, cassettes, and live performances, it has grown into a cultural treasure—a sound that connects generations and islands across the archipelago.
So next time you hear those familiar strings and bush bass, remember: you’re listening to more than music. You’re hearing the story of Vanuatu’s journey into modern identity, one song at a time.
This table lists Vanuatu stringbands, including their islands of origin and notable tracks or albums where available, highlighting both historical and contemporary groups shaping the local music scene.
| Stringband Name | Island of Origin | Notable Albums / Tracks / Active Info |
|---|---|---|
| Lautano Stringband | Efate (Lautoka) | Copra Blong Vanuatu (1982), Lautano II |
| Lautano II Local String Band | Efate (Lautoka) | Celen Meri (2019), Darling MP (Track 07, Vol 15, 2024) |
| Souwia Local String Band | Moso Island | Live recordings, community performances |
| Taumaru Local String Band | Vanuatu (unspecified) | Chill-Wreck Music (2024) |
| Tokoriki Local String Band | Tokoriki Island | Golden Star Gyal (Track) |
| Sarapokasi Local String Band | Unknown | Vavine Erata (Track) |
| Dokowia Local String Band | Unknown | Awo Namburu (Track) |
| Shakura Local String Band | Unknown | Track |
| Fenes String Band | Unknown | Track |
| Jipajiroa Local String Band | Unknown | Ji Manaturaga, Marolyne (Lelei Siviri) (Tracks) |
| Dausake | Unknown | Island Dress (Track) |
| Tokosowia | Unknown | Track |
| Ruatu Local String Band | Unknown | Track |
| Torotua String Band | Unknown | Tavini Akoma (Track) |
| Saratokowia | Unknown | Rockem Vanuatu (Track) |
| Lukunaeva | Maewo Island | Umbrella-Koroi (Track) |
| Langara Local String Band | Unknown | Track |
| Tokorua Local String Band | Pele Kiki | Track |
| Salma Local String Band | South Pentikos | Track |
| Vanruwo | South Pentecost | Unknown |
| Lonwolwol | Dip Point, West Ambrym | Unknown |
| Aro String Band | Craig Cove, West Ambrym | Unknown |
| Lonmeha | Craig Cove, West Ambrym | Unknown |
| Marum String Band | North Ambrym | Unknown |
| Stoney Boys | South East Ambrym | Unknown |
| Vunvuro | Espiritu Santo | Known tracks include Gel Malo (2022); new album anticipated Nov 2025 |
| Tokotakia Local String Band | Unknown | Old / historical band |
| Lumbukuti String Band | Unknown | Old / historical band |
| Noisy Boys | Tanna Island | Unknown |
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