Nagol - Land Diving

'A leap of faith'

5.15.04
Contributor:  BlindFreddy

On the island of Pentecost in the central group of islands of Vanuatu, one of the most interesting kastoms in all of Vanuatu is practiced. It is called 'Nagol' or Land Diving. As a precursor to the bungee jump performed by extreme sport fanatics elsewhere in the world, the Nagol is an extraordinary kastom that showcases the courage and mystique of the Ni-vanuatu of Pentecost. Far beyond the adrenaline rush bungee jumpers seek, the Nagol ties the Pentecost tribal people to their land in more ways than the obvious.

Based on perhaps a thousand year old incident, Nagol sprung from a legend that describes a man named Tamalie who mistreated his wife so badly through beatings that she left him and ran away. Determined to bring her home, Tamalie found her hiding in a huge Banyan tree. As Tamalie climbed up to retrieve her, the wife tied Lianas vines to her ankles. Just as Tamalie grabbed for her, she leaped from his grasp. Thinking she had killed herself, the distraught Tamalie leapt as well...but without the Lianas. Needless to say Tamalie was killed while his wife's life was spared. The other tribal men became so upset that the wife had tricked Tamalie, that they took precautionary measures and began the land diving themselves, while at the same time, prohibiting the women from doing so.

The Nagol of today serves more purposes than just celebrating the ancient legend. And it has evolved into a complex ritual that speaks to several aspects of Pentecost tribal life. In addressing the legend directly, today's Nagol is only performed by men and the preparation beforehand is strictly taboo for women to witness. In terms of tribal honor, it allows the men to show their worthiness and courage before the women, as a statement that that they will never be tricked again. Some men even discuss their marital difficulties during the traditional pre-jump speech, while the women who are standing below listen.

The scheduling of Nagol is tied to the April-May timeframe, so that green Lianas vines, which are more pliable and resilient, can be used in the Land Diving. This happens to coincide with the very important yam harvest, a staple food of the ni-vanuatu. As the Land Divers reach the end of their Lianas tethers, they curl their shoulders as they brush the soil in the landing area. This is meant as a tribute to ensure a good harvest of yams for the tribe and is seen as a fertility rite for the basic tribal food source.

The mechanics of the Nagol kastom begin with preparation several weeks in advance. A site is selected where a tall tree serves as the 'core' support for the surrounding stick tower. The core tree is denuded of branches and leaves and is tied to the supporting branch scaffolding that builds its way upward as much as 70-100 ft high. The construction of the tower itself is a collective effort, but the 'sigols', individual diving platforms that extend outward as perches to leap from, are constructed by the individual divers. They are designed in such a way as to partially break away when stressed by the taut vines to help disperse the energy of the jolt. The selection of the Liana vines are also left to the individual but with crucial input dispensed from trusted tribal elders. The size and length of the Lianas chosen are based on the weight of the diver and the height from which they will leap. Obviously this step is crucial to the success of the Nagol and the life of diver. The Lianas vines when green are naturally filled with water, fairly pliable and will stretch a good distance when stressed.

As a final token acknowledgement to this kastom's danger, the sloped landing area is dug up with sticks to a depth of about 10 inches in depth and then smoothed over. This provides a more forgiving surface should the vines break or their length and size be miscalculated. And this does happen from time to time. One or both vines have broken many times but the vines have been able to break the fall sufficiently to prevent fatal injury...that is except once. Over the years only one death has occured, that being in a demonstration for Queen Elizabeth's visit to Vanuatu in 1974. This took place during the wrong season when the Lianas were no longer green, and the dry brittle Lianas failed to properly serve their purpose. In a case where the vines might be too long, a more serious proposition exists. But fortunately that occurs less frequently and the softened earth and sloped soil surface aid in preventing serious injury.

Induction into this ancient kastom begins at an early age for the young boys of the tribal village. Their first leaps are from atop their father's shoulders, leaping headlong with only their held ankles stopping their fall. From there, progression to model towers 8-10 ft tall complete with platforms provides a transition for them to begin their first leaps from the lower levels of the main Nagol tower by the age of 7 or 8 years old.

The Nagol ceremony begins with the ritual washing of the divers and application of body paint and decorations including boar tusk necklaces. The women and girls wear newly made fiber skirts as they perform kastom dances, sing and stomp the earth, entreating the animistic spirits to provide a generous yam harvest. The men then emerge onto the scene dancing and chanting until the proper level of intensity is reached. Then the diving begins with the youngest boys diving from perhaps the 20 ft. level of the tower. 

The stakes are raised as the men begin their diving in earnest from increasingly higher platforms with the highest level reserved for those held of high esteem in the village. Before each dive, they release a gift of Croton leaves to the spirits to ensure a successful dive. Usually a few words are spoken as final thoughts are expressed. Then hands are raised above the head, clapped 3 times and the leap of faith into the arms of their beliefs is done in one smooth arced dive. And the Nagol ceremony is complete.

While outsiders are not permitted to perform the Nagol, any 'Survivor Vanuatu' would seem incomplete without an appearance of Land Diving in the program series in some fashion.  But be assured that whatever form this kastom appears, it will be something the Survivor cast and viewers alike will not soon forget.