{{Italic title Nakamal

A ''nakamal'' is a traditional meeting place in

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 ...

. It is used for gatherings, ceremonies and the drinking of

kava Kava or kava kava ('' Piper methysticum'': Latin 'pepper' and Latinized Greek 'intoxicating') is a crop of the Pacific Islands. The name ''kava'' is from Tongan and Marquesan, meaning 'bitter'; other names for kava include ''ʻawa'' ( Hawai� ...

. A nakamal is found in every significant Vanuatu community, but the design of the nakamal and the traditions surrounding it vary between areas.

Etymology

The term ''nakamal'' is a

Bislama Bislama (; ; also known by its earlier French name, ) is an English-based creole language and one of the official languages of Vanuatu. It is the first language of many of the "Urban ni-Vanuatu" (citizens who live in Port Vila and Luganvil ...

word, borrowed from certain

Oceanic languages The approximately 450 Oceanic languages are a branch of the Austronesian languages. The area occupied by speakers of these languages includes Polynesia, as well as much of Melanesia and Micronesia. Though covering a vast area, Oceanic languages ...

spoken in Vanuatu, such as North Efate. In those languages, such a form can be parsed as ''na kamal'', combining the common

article Article often refers to: * Article (grammar), a grammatical element used to indicate definiteness or indefiniteness * Article (publishing), a piece of nonfictional prose that is an independent part of a publication Article may also refer to: ...

''na'' and a noun ''kamal'' or ''kamali''. Ultimately, it descends from a Proto-Oceanic and

Proto-Malayo-Polynesian Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (PMP) is the reconstructed ancestor of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, which is by far the largest branch (by current speakers) of the Austronesian language family. Proto-Malayo-Polynesian is ancestral to all Austrones ...

etymon Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words and ...

''*kamaliR'', meaning "men's house". Cognates in non-Oceanic languages include Cebuano and

Tagalog Tagalog may refer to: Language * Tagalog language, a language spoken in the Philippines ** Old Tagalog, an archaic form of the language ** Batangas Tagalog, a dialect of the language * Tagalog script, the writing system historically used for Taga ...

''kamalig'' “granary”.

Traditional nakamals

In north and central Vanuatu, the nakamal generally takes the form of a large building, assembled from traditional materials with the help of the entire community, under the direction of a particular chief. Entry to the nakamal is often restricted to men, and the building may be used as a sleeping and living area for unmarried men and boys and for male visitors to the village. Significantly, most nakamals lack a lockable door, indicating that all friendly visitors are welcome, although there may be a low barrier across the entrance to keep out animals. In front of a nakamal there is often a flattened clearing, or ''nasara'', used for dances and outdoor gatherings. In southern Vanuatu, a nakamal may be a large, sheltered outdoor space, such as under a banyan tree. In Vanuatu's capital

Port Vila Port Vila (french: Port-Vila), or simply Vila (; french: Vila; bi, Vila ), is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. It is located on the island of Efate. Its population in the last census (2009) was 44,040, an increase of 35% on the pr ...

, the assembly building of the national council of chiefs ( Malvatumauri) is designed in the form of a traditional nakamal.

''Nakamal'' as ''kava'' bars

The ''nakamals most prominent function nowadays is as a place for the preparation and drinking of ''

''. In urban Vanuatu, and in neighbouring

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

, the term ''nakamal'' may be used for a kava bar where the drink is sold, although in rural Vanuatu a traditional nakamal (where ''kava'' preparation is a communal activity and money does not usually change hands) is distinct from a kava bar. An urban ''nakamal'' or ''kava'' bar at which ''kava'' is available for sale is advertised by a coloured light displayed at the entrance.

Etymology

Traditional nakamals

''Nakamal'' as ''kava'' bars

See also