Fanla is a small village situated in the north of

Ambrym Ambrym is a volcanic island in Malampa Province in the archipelago of Vanuatu. Volcanic activity on the island includes lava lakes in two craters near the summit. Etymology Ambrym (also known as ''Ambrin'', ''"ham rim"'' in the Ranon language ...

Island, in the archipelago of

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

Melanesia Melanesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It extends from Indonesia's New Guinea in the west to Fiji in the east, and includes the Arafura Sea. The region includes the four independent countries of Fiji, Va ...

, in the province of

Malampa Malampa is one of the six provinces of Vanuatu, located in the center of the country. It consists of three main islands: Malakula, Ambrym and Paama, and takes its name from the first syllable of their names. It includes a number of other islands � ...

. The original name of this place was ''Saanembur Lonbato''. This is a Kastom Village, which represents the traditional values of the region. The village population is about 250 persons. Wanmelbu, a legendary resident, created the foundations of the customary chief ranks still current in the northern part of the island. His eldest son, Tingtingru, had a dream vision of tams-tams (''atingting''), major components of the traditional tribal art of North Ambrym. By Ambrym tradition, the people who live in the village of Fanla are all, without exception, the descendants of Wanmelbu.

Notable residents

; Magetafanla Roromal :According to oral tradition, he met captain

James Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean an ...

(who actually saw the island only from the sea). Cook allegedly baptized the island under the name of the welcome gift presented by Roromal himself, an ''ignam'', by pronouncing the words "''am rêm''" ("Here is your yam"). This phrase later became ''Ambrem'' or Ambrym. (The ancient name of the island was "Tumurin".) ; Magekon Malmere :The first son of Fanla to repeat the ranking process. ;

Bule Tainmal Bule may refer to: People * Bule Naipi (1922–1944), Albanian hero * Jeffery Bule (born 1991), Solomon Islands football player * Nino Bule (born 1976), Croatian football player and manager Other * Bule (woreda), Ethiopia * Bule (term) Bule ...

:The most lauded leader of the island's history. ;

Tofor Chief Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal (1918 – December 1999) was a prominent Vanuatan chief and a notable figure in the history of North Ambrym. Known for his exceptional strength, magical proficiency, and pivotal role during World War II, Chief Tofor ...

-kon Rengrengmal :The last person to have reached the high ranks, in 1972; died in 1999.

Genealogy of the Chiefs of Fanla Village

*Golbahan *Tanmonong Bariu Meto Bussumel *Tanmonong Libu * Magetafanla Roromal * Magekon Malmere *

(? – 1972) *

Tofor Rengrengmal Chief Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal (1918 – December 1999) was a prominent Vanuatan chief and a notable figure in the history of North Ambrym. Known for his exceptional strength, magical proficiency, and pivotal role during World War II, Chief Tofor ...

(1921–1999) *Bonglibu César (1962) *Ben Wiu Meltofor (1984)

References

{{Reflist Populated places in Vanuatu Malampa Province