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| Tanna Kava Custom and Culture |
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Kava has always played a huge role in Tannese custom and culture as a ceremonial drink. At any event or ceremony, kava is considered of great value and gives extra meaning to the event. If an event goes ahead without kava then the event is/was considered incomplete or in adequate. Some of the traditional Tanna custom events where kava is an integral part include:
System of exchanging woman as brides from one village to another
Whilst this practice has become less common in modern times - as archaic as it sounds it still goes on in small parts of Tanna. This practice is believed to be used primarily as a way of limiting in breeding.
When two nakamals or tribes arranged for the exchange of brides, kava had to be exchanged first. This is intertwined with the Tanna kava mythology, re Tanna woman not being allowed to consume or be near kava in its preparation, however it also emphasises the high degree at which kava is held. Out of respect for Tanna Custom, the packaging team at Tanna kava consists entirely of Man-Tanna males.
Communication
If one tribe or village wants to send messages to another, i.e to invite them to come to their nakamal for a discussion - this could be about anything including disputes, politics etc. - the message is sent wth a piece of kava or within a kava leaf. A message sent without the attached kava will go unheaded by the recipients.
Marriage and Circumcision
Kava is used in all marriage ceremonies in Tanna, with member from both families bringing their prize/highest grade kava. There is often cases of "one up manship" with guests freely commenting on which families kava is the best. This competitiveness will occaisionally mean that a family will buy kava to take to the wedding from another family if they feel there current kava crop hasn't reached maturity yet.
The arrival of maturity/puberty for young boys is a high point in Tannese custom. One of the key ceremonies is the circumcision of young boys from the village. The circumcision ceremony is done on mass each year, for all boys that reach a certain age, normally between 9-11 years. The boys are gathered together and the procedure is done. Prior to this however a specific type of kava is consumed by the adults. This kava is called "Tapu-nga"and is solely reserved for the circumcision ceremony.
Composing Custom Songs
The process of composing and indeed commissioning songs requires that the man must take a lava leaf together with all the other leaves and offer them to the person who will be composing the song. The kava leaf give the "gundians" - inspiration - to the composer by leading him into the spirit gods where he gets both the tune and the words of the song.
Birth of a baby
When a baby is born, the family of the mother of the child must be the first ones to come and see the baby, i.e. before anyone else. At the time of the first visit, kava must be brought, together with other gifts of pigs, mats, taro, yam etc..
Death - Funerals
Much like in birth, Tanna custom requires that in death and the following funeral people gather with gifts to give to the mourning family. Of course the premium gift amongst all others is kava!.
Making Peace
Man-Tanna are renown for their ferociousness and it was and is not uncommon for one village, tribe or family to fight against another. After the fight has simmered and cooler heads prevail, kava is the one element which will join the warring parties back together. It is agreed that whilst pigs and other gifts will be given in any mediation and or reconciliation ceremony the process is not complete without the giving and consumption of kava.
Welcoming Ceremony
When a chief or visitor makes a friendly visit to another nakamal, the chief of the host village drink kava with his guests as a sign of welcome, honour and respect between the two parties. It is only after the consumption of kava that any business or ceremonial duties can take place. |
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 $186.35
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