Jean-Marie Tjiboau Cultural Centre visit and more French conversationpractice

This morning we took the bus to visit a cultural centre, explaining the Melanesian culture of New Caledonia. It was named after Jean-Marie Tjiboau, a famous New Caledonia independence figure who was martyred for what he had tried to make a peaceful cause. We learned that apart from the main island there are three Loyalty Islands and a few smaller ones, as part of Nouvelle Caledonie. It is one of three French Territories in the Pacific, Tahiti being one of the others. There are 300 000 people on the islands in total, with a mixture being Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, about 30% being of French origin and a few others Indonesian and Vietnamese descendents. Noumea has half the population of New Caledonia.

Our guide Elisabeth talked us through the local creation myth, represented by the water and the huge rock. The locals had very primitive cultural practices mixed with quite advanced ones.

The carvings have special significance. Pity about the extra shapes in the photo below.

The Cultural Centre building was designed by the same architect who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris. It was amazing. We saw an exhibition on the importance of weaving to the island people and learned about the clash of old and new culture. A family wedding typically has over 500 guests and might last a week. This does not go well with contemporary employers, when kids are expected to cook for a week prior to the ceremony. Local foods are yams, bananas etc

A feature of the visit was to inspect the traditional huts. Below is a chieftain's hut, made entirely of straw and wood, without nails or modern materials. Even more amazingly, it is totally cyclone proof.

Inside one of the huts, all authentic, except the stone wall.

The day finished with another 3 hours of French Conversation practice at CREIPAC. Dinner followed at a restaurant on Baie de Citrons. It was wet and drizzly today. Tonight (in theory) we go to bed early as we rise tomorrow up at 5 am to catch a ferry to Iles de Pins, which will be a highlight of our trip. Bonsoir!