Honiara – In Oceania, just to the east of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands is a mysterious archipelago that is home to numerous indigenous groups. Its luscious remote forests are where local communities live within their traditional customs. One of these ethnic indigenous groups is the Kwaio people.
Many may not know that these hidden regions are home to age-old practices. The present Kwaio people have access to modern schools and churches. However, there are still some inland traditional communities that may only occasionally welcome foreigners. Before jumping right away, it is best to learn more about them. After all, an outsider does not want to be surprised by the people whose name Kwaio translates to “I will kill you.”
History and Cultural Identity
The Kwaio people are a small community in comparison to many ethnic groups around the globe. You may find it challenging to find materials describing or explaining the people’s culture. This is true as many of the areas in the region have yet to fully transform into a more modern society, making it difficult for researchers to reach them. Luckily for us, anthropologist and linguist Roger Keesing recorded his observations of the people’s lifestyle and customs when he lived with the Kwaio in the 1960s.
Aside from living in remote lands, the Kwaio people fiercely resisted the church and foreign influences. This is why the Kwaio members have kept their traditions, beliefs, and culture intact. Imprinted in the people’s traditional celebrations, music, and folklore are their distinct cultural identities. The Kwaio drumming during events and gatherings help the community stay intact and aware of their cultural heritage. At present, many people have converted to Christianity while still practicing a lot of their indigenous traditions.
What exactly is the kastom?
The kastom (pidgin word that refers to traditional culture) of the Kwaio may even be thousands of years old based on their oral tradition. Many of the kastom are not written. The members of the community are the ones who pass on the knowledge to their children. Their ways of doing so may vary from directly teaching the values and beliefs to their younger members to telling stories that embody the philosophy of the community.
Aside from passing on the knowledge, the kastom also has different divisions. The Kwaio may have the kastom house, ritual objects, and specific lore.
Schools and churches are widespread in the Solomon Islands. There are still, however, some inland communities that practice their traditional customs and rituals. Even though many indigenous members have converted to Christianity, the chief and the elder members try to keep the practices alive. A hopeful glimpse into the future may be the continuation of the Kwaio people’s ethnic traditions with more local preservation and conservation projects in mind. For now, the rich oral traditions persist, and there are other rules to remember.
For instance, there are several rules on taboos and various strict rituals that the people follow to show respect in communal interactions. Taboo in the language is a common practice even in other countries and indigenous traditions. It is the people’s way of representing words and actions that are associated with sacred things. As they remain sacred, the word and action must be treated with the utmost respect. One example is the taboo on clothing as observed before going inside a kastom man’s home.
Photo by Gilly Tanabose on Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/@glt23
