Paper short abstract:

In North Malaita, Solomon Islands, each weave, vocal line, form or design tells its own compelling story - fashioned to evoke emotion, to teach our histories and to instil spiritual understanding. Hence, for our people, continuation of the arts protects who we were, who we are and who we will be.

Paper long abstract:

My doctoral thesis Kwaimani Ana Liohaua Gia (The Heart of Us) reflects on indigenous knowledge, relationships and the importance of expression within North Malaitan music, arts and culture. In Malaita, Solomon Islands, traditional arts are holistically understood; oral histories, art traditions, songs and music are intrinsically connected. These treasures have archived cultural knowledge and spiritual beliefs for generations.

In the face of increased globalisation in the twenty-first century, our elders have voiced their concerns for the continuation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Changes in communication have coincided with a break in customary knowledge transmission processes and North Malaitan understandings of what kastoms are, how they are performed, and why they are adhered to. Relatively few North Malaitans have access to digital archives and the traditional histories and treasures housed in international museums and archives. Faced with the realisation that our arts and our traditions are endangered, community leaders and culture-bearers are working together to explain and teach the creative arts to younger generations. The collective efforts of performance groups in the Lau-Mbaelelea area have inspired a resurgence in the arts and helped to regenerate cultural pride. Empowered groups have reimagined traditional art-making, and hybridity exposes the ongoing strength of customary ideas in a modern Malaitan world.

This paper explores how North Malaitan communities are working to preserve the arts and culture through collaborative action, and offers indigenous ideas for future cultural heritage repatriation that supports local conservation efforts.