The island of Ambrym, sometimes referred to as “Black Island”, is well known for its black magic and dark soil.  Named after its yams by Captain James Cook in 1774, the island features two majestic active volcanoes, Marum and Benbow, which receive many visitors.

The first missionaries to Ambrym arrived in 1880. They took strong stands against many Melanesian customs such as cannibalism, grade-taking, ancestor worship, polygamy and more.  Some missionaries barred their Christian converts from smoking, drinking kava and even dancing.

Many people in Vanuatu were influenced by the teachings of the early missionaries, associating their customs with acts of evil. Some are very attracted by western civilization and forgot to learn their identity such as custom and tradition, mainly their mother tongue. People of “Black Island” stand against the introduced Western ideology and chose, as a matter of identity, to continue their traditional practices.  

This festival was started or initiated by the native of Black Island just for the preservation and promotion of traditionnal knowledge for future generation.It will be annual until all existing traditional practice on the island will be practiced and passed on to the new generation.