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    Malvatumauri President Visits Tanna Ahead of National Arts & Culture Festival 2025

    Tanna, Vanuatu – 28 July 2025

    The President of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Chief Merhimbadangdang Paul Robert Ravun, was on Tanna Island last week as part of ongoing preparations for the 5th National Arts & Culture Festival (NAF), which will be held from August 5 to 12, 2025.

    The President’s visit highlights the central role of Vanuatu’s traditional leadership in the upcoming festival, which is set to gather Chiefs, communities, artists, and cultural groups from all six provinces in a national celebration of identity, unity, and kastom.

    During the visit, Chief Ravun and his delegation met with the Chiefs of the Nikoletan and the Tafea Outer Islands Council of Chiefs to reaffirm their collaboration and leadership in the hosting of the festival. The three traditional councils are working together to prepare a grand cultural welcome for all participants and visiting Chiefs from across the nation.

    “As custodians of culture and tradition, the Malvatumauri Council stands in full support of this festival,” said Chief Ravun. “We are committed to standing alongside our fellow Chiefs in Tanna and Outer Islands to ensure the festival is guided by kastom values, mutual respect, and strong leadership.”

    The National Arts & Culture Festival 2025 will mark a significant chapter in Vanuatu’s cultural journey, with Tanna Island and Tafea Province to be officially declared the National Cultural Hub of Vanuatu during the event. The recognition underscores the region’s historical and ongoing contribution to the preservation and promotion of kastom, language, and traditional knowledge.

    The Malvatumauri delegation’s presence on Tanna strengthens the message of unity and shared responsibility among Vanuatu’s traditional leaders as they prepare to welcome thousands of people for this historic national gathering.

    The Ministry of Justice, Youth, and Community Services is coordinating closely with the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs and local authorities in Tafea to ensure that all traditional, logistical, and cultural aspects of the festival are delivered with integrity and purpose.

    The 2025 National Arts & Culture Festival will not only celebrate Vanuatu’s rich cultural diversity, but also reaffirm the vital role of Chiefs in maintaining peace, social cohesion, and national identity.

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