Notorious during the colonial period for being jointly administered by Britain and France as a condominium with the additional cultural dislocation which this caused.

It is interesting anthropologically for the Cargo Cult called John Frum based on the expectation of material gifts from the gods caused by the experience of American occupation during the second world war when vast quantities of military equipment suddenly arrived and then after a few years was withdrawn or destroyed.

The Condominium was established in 1906 following a period of rivalry in the islands between the British and French interests. It took the form of two separate colonial administrations in the same country with some co-ordination between them.

The islands became independent in 1980 at the insistence of the British and the reluctant agreement of the French.

There is genetic evidence to suggest that some of the Polynesians who settled the islands to the east and south may have come from these islands, though linguistic evidence suggests Taiwan.

Bislama (Vanuatu Pidgin)

English

French

One political division is between the English and French speakers. The English speakers have tended to dominate the legislature and the government. The French government still wishes to retain influence and is accused by the Vanuatu government of interfering in local affairs. There are French settlers, owners of plantations. Following a general election in December 1991 the French group may have gained power.