Land diving

Land diving (known in the local Saa language as Gol and in Bislama as Nanggol) is a ritual performed by the men of the southern part of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu.

[1] Men jump off wooden towers around 20 to 30 meters (66 to 98 ft) high, with two tree vines wrapped around the ankles.

[5] The Bislama word nanggol comes from the Saa term gol, with the prefixed article na- typical of the indigenous languages of Vanuatu.

[9] Furthermore, land diving is considered as an expression of masculinity, as it demonstrates boldness that was associated with the bwahri or warrior.

[6] The tower symbolically represents a body, with a head, shoulders, breasts, belly, genitals, and knees.

[9] The men cut trees to construct the body, clear a site for the tower, and remove rocks from the soil.

[3] The core of the tower is made from a lopped tree, and a pole scaffolding tied together with vines stabilizing it.

[2] Before these men dive, they often bring closure to unsettled business and disputes in case they die.

Before dawn on the day of the ceremony, the men undergo a ritual wash, anoint coconut oil on themselves, and decorate their bodies.

[10][11] In the mid-nineteenth century, missionaries came to the area and persuaded the natives to stop land diving.

[5] After the independence from colonial powers in 1980, the ritual was revived by Christian locals from neighbouring areas.

[13] In 1995, the people of Pentecost Island, with the support of Vanuatu's attorney-general, declared that they would endeavor to get royalties from bungee jumping enterprises because they viewed the tradition as stolen.

[14] British and French troops attacked some villages based on the rumor of a developing cargo cult.

[3][14] The British colonial administration wanted the Queen to have an interesting tour, and convinced the Anglican villagers of the Melanesian Mission at Point Cross to perform a jump.

[12] His experiences were recounted in the December 1970 edition of National Geographic Magazine, Land Diving With the Pentecost Islanders.

[3][15] The tourism aspect of land diving has come with some debate, such as maintaining the custom's integrity while gaining attention.

[15] To prevent commercialization of land diving, a tourism council that handles the tourists and presentation was formed by the chiefs.

[3][16] The local control and government support maintain the ritual's authenticity, while encouraging promotion.