Pacific Islands Gallery

A man in ceremonial dress rides a horse along the street

A colour image of a man in ceremonial dress and white body paint riding a brown horse along a town street during a festival. The horse's face and body is similarly painted. The street is lined by onlookers, and colourful bunting stretches between the lamp posts. This image was shot while filming Taem Bifo Taem Nao - Time Before Time Now 1980: In December 1979, over 2000 people from all over Vanuatu travelled to Port Vila to take part in the first National Arts Festival. The festival, which covered a wide range of cultural activities, was arranged to help foster interest in the old ways and try to unite the people through their rich culture

© NFSA. All Rights Reserved

Marching Band. Taem Bifo Taem Nao - Time Before Time Now, 1980

A colour image of a marching band in red, white and blue costumes performs with a single drummer in a grassy area, surrounded by onlookers. In December 1979, over 2000 people from all over Vanuatu travelled to Port Vila to take part in the first National Arts Festival. The festival, which covered a wide range of cultural activities, was arranged to help foster interest in the a??old waysa?? and try to unite the people through their rich culture

© NFSA. All Rights Reserved

A group of Islander men wearing traditional, ceremonial dress

A colour image of a group of men in profile, in an outdoor performance space in the Solomon Islands. They are wearing traditional, ceremonial dress and elaborate, intricately designed headdresses. They are holding long, thin, wooden instruments. In the background a group of onlookers sit on, or lean against a fence with white wooden railings, in the shade of a stand of trees. This image was shot while filming Solomon Islands 1979

© Australian Development Assistance Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs 1980 (Bureau ceased to exist in 1987)