Five mamas from the Liumoros Water Music Group of East Gaua, Torba Province, will travel overseas to perform Gaua’s traditional water music for international audiences.

From a press release it states that the Department of Tourism is supporting the Gaua Tourism Association following a request from the association.

The Department says the support reflects its commitment to registered, licensed and accredited community tourism operators in the outer islands as they take their products to new markets.

Keeping Gaua’s water music alive

Water music is a traditional cultural expression of Gaua, with performers standing waist-deep in the sea or a river and striking, cupping and sweeping the surface of the water to create rhythms and melodies that accompany traditional songs.

The practice has been passed from mother to daughter through generations.

The Liumoros Water Music Group is a registered tourism operator and holds a tourism accreditation permit issued by the Department of Tourism.

The Department says overseas performances will give the group an opportunity to introduce the tradition to new audiences, build demand for Torba Province as a destination and generate income for families and the East Gaua community.

Director of the Department of Tourism, Paul Pio, says the group represents an important community-owned cultural tourism product.

“Water music belongs to the mamas of Gaua and it belongs to Vanuatu. The Gaua Tourism Association has built a product the whole country can be proud of, and the Department is pleased to help these five mamas take it to the world.”

Acting Manager of the Torba Tourism Office, Kevineth Garae, says the sponsorship recognises the work the association and Liumoros group have done to develop their cultural product.

He encouraged other communities in Torba with cultural products to work with the Torba Tourism Office to register and become accredited.

The Department says its support for the Liumoros Water Music Group aligns with the Vanuatu Sustainable Tourism Policy 2030, which promotes community-based and cultural tourism in the outer islands.

Photo supplied