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The word "kava" comes from the Tanna words "nik-kava". "Nik" means plant and "kava" meaning a drowsy state. It is assumed that the term has developed to a stage where Bislama - the national language of Vanuatu - adopted it from the Tanna language, but omitting the prefix "nik". Such is Tanna's bond with kava that the entire nation now uses a Tannese term for the plant. Below are some Tannese mythical stories relating to kava, to help give you an insight into the importance of kava in Tanna life.
Kalpapen and Kava
The mythical Tannese spirit hero Kalpapen, is said to make kava on the top of Mount Tukosmere. Being a spirit he cannot be seen, but is often said to be heard shouting after drinking his kava in the evening.
Kalpapen uses a trough that has been scoured out of the earth on the top of the moutaintop. The Southern areas of Tanna such as Green Point, Imaki and Kwamera are said to be thick with so many ravines because of the water running off his kava.
Kalpapen is said to have travelled through the Tannese village of Lounakiymapen, where he found the villages drinking wild kava (often referred to as tue dai kava). Being repulsed at the taste and effect he gave them “real” Tanna kava to use.
Why woman aren’t allowed to drink kava in Tanna
The below story was recorded by the famous French “kava-ologist” Vincent Lebot during a trip to Ianmanu village in the South East of Tanna.
When he quizzed the chief as to why the women of Tanna weren;t allowed to drink kava, be around the preparation of kava or be around men when they drink kava he was relayed this kastom story:
Before people drank the kava species that is drunk in Tanna, they drank tue-dai or wild kava. This occurred until one day when a woman who was from Fortuna – a small island to the west of Tanna – was peeling vegetables at the beach. Whilst cleaning the vegetables she was crouched in the salt water, a spirit took advantage of her position and slipped a smooth magic stone into her vagina.
Surprised she pulled it out and looked at it. She was shocked to see that it was smooth in appearance, yet appeared also be knotted. Mystified by its appearance she decided to take it back to the village. Upon seeing the stone the chief took it and called a meeting of all the men during that evenings kava-drinking.
The men of the village gathered around the chief as he displayed the stone, when the spirit appeared. The spirit told them that they were drinking the wrong kava. He then showed them a “true” kava plant and also told them that the stone was sacred and that they should handle it with the upmost respect and care. The men , respecting the spirits request put the stone into a bowl carved from a sacred timber and showed it with water.
The next day the bowl was overflowing with stones that were identical to the original stone. Chiefs and other men in high positions in all the villages from Tanna came and took the stones to their respective village and because of this stone the Man-Tanna are able to prepare the strong and clean kava that they drink today.
Out of respect for Tanna Custom, the packaging team at Tanna kava consists entirely of Man-Tanna males. |
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