Banua Wuhu Aerial 2

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The word ''banua'' or ''vanua'' – meaning "land," "home," or "village" – occurs in several Austronesian languages. It derives from the Proto-Austronesian reconstructed form *''banua''. The word has particular significance in several countries.

In Western Malayo-Polynesian languages

Philippines

;Kapampangan
In the Kapampangan language, ''banwa'' or ''banua'' means "sky" or "year".
;Visayan
In the Hiligaynon Visayan language, ''banwa'' means "people", "nation" or "country."

Malaysia and Indonesia

;Malay
In the Malay language (the lingua franca of both Malaysia and Indonesia), ''benua'' means "landmass" or "continent". The word for "land" in these languages and nearby Austronesian languages — e.g., in Tana Toraja, Tana Tidung or Tanö Niha – are ''tanah'' or ''tana''.
;Banjar
In the Banjar language, ''banua'' means "village" or "homeland".
;Old Javanese
In the Old Javanese language, ''wanwa'' or ''wanua'' means "village", "inhabited place" or "settlement".
;Buginese
In the Buginese language, ''banua'' means "village", "country", "land" or "homeland".
;Toraja
In the Toraja language, ''banua'' means "home".
;Old Sundanese
In the Old Sundanese language, ''banua'' or ''buana'' means "continent" or "world".
;Minahasa
In all Minahasan languages, ''wanua'' means "village", "country", or "land". The word ''Kawanua'' means land of the Minahasan people.
;Dayak
In Iban (used by the Dayak people), ''menua'' or ''menoa'' means "place", "country", "land" or "homeland". In many other Dayak languages, the word has the form ''binua''.

In Oceania

In some Oceanic languages of Melanesia, the root *banua has sometimes become ''vanua'', via Proto-Oceanic *''panua''.

In Papua New Guinea

In Motu, the word ''hanua'' means "village". The name of a village near Port Moresby is called Hanuabada, meaning "big village".

In Palau

In Palauan, which is a non-Oceanic Austronesian language, ''beluu'' means "village" or "country", as can be seen in the native name of the country, ''Beluu er a Belau''.

In Vanuatu

In Vanuatu, ''vanua'' also means "land", "island" or "home." The name of the Vanua'aku Pati literally means "The party of My Land". Hence also the name of Vanuatu itself, and the place name Vanua Lava (literally ‘big island’ in Mota language).
;Lo-Toga
In the Lo-Toga language, the word ''venie'' means "village", "island" or "country".
;Mwotlap
In Mwotlap, the word ''vōnō'' means "village", "district", "island" or "country".

In Fiji

In Fijian and in Fiji English, ''vanua'' is an essential concept of indigenous Fijian culture and society. It is generally translated in English as "land", but ''vanua'' as a concept encompasses a number of inter-related meanings. When speaking in English, Fijians may use the word ''vanua'' rather than an imprecise English equivalent. According to Fijian academic Asesela Ravuvu, a correct translation would be "land, people and custom". ''Vanua'' means "the land area one is identified with", but also
:''"the people, their traditions and customs, beliefs and values, and the various other institutions established for the sake of achieving harmony, solidarity and prosperity within a particular social context. ..It provides a sense of identity and belonging. ..The vanua ..is an extension of the concept of the self."''

An indigenous Fijian person is thus defined through his or her land; the concepts of personhood and land ownership are viewed as inseparable. This is also the case for other indigenous peoples of Oceania, such as Australian Aboriginals (''see: Dreaming'') and New Zealand Māori (''see: iwi'').

A ''vanua'' is also a confederation of several ''yavusa'' ("clans" established through descent from a common ancestor). A ''vanua'' in this sense is associated with its ownership of an area of ''vanua'' in the sense of "land"; the various meanings of ''vanua'' are, here too, interrelated.

The word ''vanua'' is found in the place names Vanua Levu and Vanua Balavu.

Indigenous land ownership is a key issue in conservative and indigenous nationalistic Fijian politics. Several right-wing, essentially indigenous parties refer to ''vanua'' in their names:
*Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party
*Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua

Polynesian languages

;Māori
In Māori language, ''whenua'' means homeland or country. The Māori people call themselves Tāngata whenua, or people of the land.
;Tongan
In Tongan, '' fonua'' means land or country.
;Hawaiian
In Hawaiian ''honua'' means land, earth, or foundation, and is usually used in the more literal sense. Land in the more figurative or spiritual sense is usually represented by the word ''ʻāina'', and locally-born people are referred to as ''kamaʻāina'' (child of the land).Nā Puke Wehewehe ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻ
''kamaʻāina''

;Other Polynesian languages
Elsewhere, the form of the word is generally ''fenua''.

See also

* Austronesian languages
*Austronesian peoples
* Cultural identity
*Culture of Fiji

References

{{reflist, 2

Cultural anthropology
Fijian culture