In Vanuatu ‘wan tok’ is the Bislama term for family – it translates as ‘one talk’ – and whether the ‘wan tok’ be spoken in English, French, Bislama or any of the many tribal languages, it is the warmth and bonding of family that is the underlying reason for the ni-Vanuatu being, on the whole, happy and stress free.
Wan tok is a living example of the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child” – everyone in the family looks after one another, to the extent that the Bislama word for ‘aunt’ is ‘other mother’.
Wan tok can also be seen in business and government – it’s not uncommon to see a government minister employing family as staff – as a driver, doing office work etc. We’d probably call it nepotism but it is just the way the wheels turn in this beguiling part of the world.
Photo: Vanuatu Tourism Authority