#melanesians

[historyfiles]

Viti (Fiji): Fiji's ancient Melanesian name was Viti, while Tongans called this chain of South Pacific islands Fisi, from which Europeans derived their version of the name.

States of Oceania - Viti

Coverage of the various historical cultures, rulers, and states of Oceania

[indizombie]

Ideas of racial superiority were inherent in the division between Melanesia and Polynesia. Light-skinned Polynesians were considered more civilised and attractive than the darker Melanesians (described as ‘frizzy blacks’ by de Brosses), furthering an enduring tradition of European romanticisation of Polynesia (in Paul Gauguin’s Tahiti paintings, for example). The Melanesian islands were also ranked according to their perceived similarity to Polynesia, with Fiji often preferred due to its history of contact with Tonga.

Rhys Griffiths, ‘National Gallery: Melanesia’, History Today

[cremedela]

Melanesians of Solomon Islands are one of the few groups with blonde hair outside of Europe

[indigenous-consent]

Here is a post explaining a bit on the nature of Melanesian Blackness and Juxtaposed Antiblackness by Non-Black Pasifika people and Colonizers...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by mana moments (@manam0ments) on Jun 17, 2020 at 11:42pm PDT

[ic001]

From now on, when sharing or discussing Blackness in a global context, this blog will use Bla(c)k as a descriptor to be inclusive of Black voices and experiences that are not African or a part of the Afro-Diaspora. However, when talking about specific Bla(c)k experiences, "Blak" or "Blackfella/Blakfella" will be used to talk about Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal Australian, Torres Strait Islanders, Aboriginal Tasmanians), South Sea Islander, Papuan and Melanesian experiences of Blackness. Meanwhile, for African/Afro-Diasporic experiences of Blackness the terms "Blac/Black" or "African/Afro-Diaspora" will be used to denote African and Afro-Diasporic experiences of Blackness.

Why is this important?

Because Bla(c)k lives and experiences are important to this world. Recognizing the extreme diversity in Blackness as well as its negative universality in a racialized world is important in the deconstruction of antiblackness and the preservation of Bla(c)k Indigenous cultures.

Disclaimer: I only include those in the term Bla(c)k who have a consistent history of being racialized as Black by colonizers, have consistently suffered and experience institutional abuse because of that racialization, embody blackness more often than not and have claimed and reclaimed Blackness as an identity both in politic and embodiment.

(From top to bottom: Pan-African flag, Australian Aboriginal flag, Torres Strait Islander flag, Flag of Papua New Guinea, Flag of West Papua and the West Papua Liberation Movement, South Sea Islander flag, Flag of Vanuatu.)

[fandomsleaveuemotionallyscarred]

I know most may not be interested but I hope some people would take the time to watch this video to see a little peek into my culture

[polgeonow]

Bougainville Independence Update: Is Bougainville a Country Yet?

After last year's referendum passed, is Bougainville independent now? Short answer: not yet!

New free article! A brief update on the status of Bougainville after its referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea six months ago.

[indizombie]

Based on obsolete ideas of race, why is ‘Melanesia’ still used? Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu became independent in the late 20th century, while New Caledonia will vote on independence in 2018 and Western New Guinea was annexed by Indonesia in 1962. For some Melanesians, the term has become a positive term of identity. The ancient Vanuatuan ritual naghol (vine diving) survived the colonial era (despite attempts to eradicate it)and is now emulated worldwide as bungee jumping.

Rhys Griffiths, ‘National Gallery: Melanesia’, History Today