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Vanuatu Folktales

Stories of creation, harmony, and lessons of humility and wisdom.
Illustration of Ambat defeating Nevinbimbaau, the ogress of Malekula Island, In a dense tropical forest clearing.

Ambat and the Ogress Nevinbimbaau

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November 6, 2025
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In the ancient days of Malekula Island, when the world was still young and danger lurked in shadows, there lived a fearsome ogress named Nevinbimbaau. Her name alone was enough to make travelers shudder as they passed through the dense tropical forests. She was a creature of cunning and cruelty, with a hunger that could never be satisfied and a
ChatGPT said: A parchment-style illustration of the Vanuatu legend “Qasavara the Giant,” showing Qat drumming on the red earth as a towering giant with shark-like teeth reaches for fleeing men climbing a bending casuarina tree that bridges to another island beneath an orange sky and blue sea.
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Qasavara the Giant

The sea was calm that day, stretching endlessly in all directions like a great blue blanket beneath the tropical sun. Qat, the Great Maker, stood at the prow of the canoe with his twelve brothers behind him, all named Tagaro. The wind filled their woven sail, and spray misted their
A sepia-toned illustration shows two Polynesian brothers paddling a traditional outrigger canoe across calm ocean waters under a rising sun. The older brother sits at the stern, focused and determined, while the younger brother at the bow gazes thoughtfully at the water. Both wear patterned loincloths and grip wooden paddles. The canoe features a curved prow and a bamboo outrigger. Gentle waves ripple around them, seabirds soar overhead, and the horizon glows with early morning light. The vintage style and warm sepia tones evoke timelessness and quiet reverence.

The Heron’s Reward

November 7, 2025
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The sun had barely cleared the horizon when two brothers pushed their outrigger canoe into the gentle surf. The older brother sat at the stern, his paddle cutting through the water with strong, practiced strokes. The younger brother worked at the bow, matching his rhythm to his sibling’s movements. Together
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Illustration of an elderly Melanesian man planting the first yam vine: The man kneels on rich, reddish-brown soil in a lush tropical landscape, gently pressing a leafy green vine into the earth. His weathered skin and gray-streaked hair reflect age and wisdom.

The Old Man and the Yam

November 6, 2025
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In the time before memory, when the world was still finding its shape and purpose, there was no food upon the earth. The land stretched vast and empty, covered in wild grasses and towering trees, but offering nothing that could fill an empty belly or give strength to weary limbs.
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