Tribal fight in Vanuatu

Champagne Bay, Espiritu Santo Island
I shot this in 2006 while working on a ship in the south pacific. By the time I had the camera rolling they had already exchanged a couple of punches and blows to the head.

Someone explained later that the beach has 2 tribes competing for the cruise ships passengers dollars, tensions had been building and the lid blew off the day we so happened to be there.

The 2 guys in the second half who intervened were from the ship's security staff, they happened to be maoris from New Zealand, turns out it helped calm things down...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• vanuatu
• tribe
• tribal
• fight
• Espiritu
• Santo
• Island
• vila
• south
• pacific
• new
• caledonia
• fiji
• kanak
• anthropology
• ship
• adventure
• travel

[nivan005]

Is this in Santo - seems like at Champagne beach - I know some of these people...when was this video taken.

[Samuelgagnondotcom]

It is indeed on Santo island, I shot that in 2006, forgot which month...it was a one of thing, the lid blew off that day I guess.

[EliteBusJr]

omg what an embarrassment that looked really bad for Vanuatu, how can you fight, when you got money coming in from the tourists, and a beautiful beach like that.

[manhogharbour]

The two sides originally derived from ONE family tribe. The first group comes from the paternal side whilst the second one is from the maternal side. Basically the dispute erupted due to the proceeds supposedly to have been received during when the cruise ships were to each time visit Champagne beach. Each side blames the other that there is no equitable share of the proceeds distributed among the two sides.

[convener777]

this is why i travel to Fiji for my holidays

[DJDuke679]

put the stick down and use your fists coward

[jaycarolinejames9tit]

i am from santo and its shameful to wat has been done oin front of tourists all because of a lands dispute so sad !!

[sea2fire]

VANUATU shame on you.

[LaMouleQuiCoule]

@knowledgeispowerfful Dude, If you did your homework before traveling you would have found long ago that Vanuatu ranks time and time again on top of the list of the countries in the world where people are the most happy.

Maybe you shouldnt go there if you are such a fucking pussy. Actually dont go anywhere, stay in your house and wrap yourself in bubblewrap, then you'll be safe. People fight in every part of the world, its human nature.

[knowledgeispowerfful]

@blackyalmel So what actually happened? I'm thinking about visiting this place, over all do you think its safe? Thanks.

[knowledgeispowerfful]

@Samuelgagnondotcom Does this type of fighting, or any kind of fighting happen a lot there? I was thinking about visiting but now I'm starting to have second thoughts. Oh!, was the e-quake near this area?. Thanks for sharing.

[blackyalmel]

Am from Vanuatu and am ashamed of what is happening here. It totally portrays a bad image about my people. I wish that guy could have dropped that stick and we'll see how tough he is...... and BTW this is no tribal fight. And the worse thing is they had tourist there and yet they made a scene...common...grow up!