Stories and storylines in Melanesia encompass rich mythical traditions, such as origin stories involving birds and tortoises, alongside contemporary narratives reflecting the challenges of cultural change, post-colonial legacies, and the tension between modern life and traditional roots, often expressed in both written literature and modern oral forms like modern storytelling festivals.
Mythological and Traditional Stories
Origin Myths:
Many Melanesian cultures feature creation myths and origin stories. In the Admiralty Islands, a dove myth describes the origin of the human race, while a Fijian story tells of a serpent hatching eggs that become the first boy and girl.
Cultural Narratives:
These stories often include tales about key aspects of their environments and societies, such as the cultural significance of specific species or the ancient traditions of warrior service in Fiji.
Contemporary Storylines and Themes
Cultural Identity in Transition:
Contemporary stories often explore the complex interplay between embracing modern life and preserving cultural traditions, especially for younger generations growing up in urban environments, according to a paper from SSRN eLibrary.
Post-Colonial Legacies:
The history of colonialism, including instances of neglect, violence, and the theft of cultural objects, continues to influence contemporary storylines and is a significant theme in how Melanesian societies are portrayed, notes Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre.
Social and Political Narratives:
Stories reflect ongoing issues of governance, indigenous rights, and the impact of international relations, as seen in the contemporary stories of Melanesia.
Forms of Storytelling
Written Literature:
A modern form of storytelling has emerged through written fiction, which offers a distinct space for artists to express feelings more openly than in traditional oral forms, according to a paper from SSRN eLibrary.
Haus Storian and Festivals:
Events like the MACFEST’s Haus Storian provide platforms for both local storytellers to share and creatively adapt traditional stories and for artistic performances that engage with cultural identity, notes Taylor & Francis Online.
Links for references:
- Selected stories from the oral literature, Traditional stories from Melanesia: Stories from Vanuatu – Stories from the Solomon Islands
- Secrets of Melanesia, Experience the phenomenal cultural and natural remoteness of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
- Oceanic Mythology, By Roland B. Dixon, [1916]
- Pacific Islander Religions, Online – About Sacred-Texts, and then A comprehensive bibliography of the texts scanned at sacred texts is available here.
- An annotated bibliography of general Melanesian folklore, Onlne