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I was fortunate to be able to attend the 4th National Arts Festival in Malampa on Malekula. This event is normally only staged every 4th year and brings together locals from all the outlying island of Vanuatu to demonstrate and celebrate their culture and customs. It was an event primarily for the people of Vanuatu with very few tourists present, except for us hardy cruisers who braved a very patchy anchorage for the pleasure of attending. We were handsomely rewarded for our efforts as we were to witness  an amazing array of costumes and dancing. It is an absolute delight to see such effort going in to maintaining and passing on all these ancient customs, with both old and the young fully embracing and supporting the occasion.