A Political Song Of

The New Hebrides

Yumi mas tingling

Songs can help develop national awareness and national unity. New Hebridean leaders now realise that their fragmented tribes, languages and islands have made it easy for the colonial governments to divide and rule.

A Pidgin song recently written by an up-coming young New Hebridean, Mr Kali Vatoko, promises to become a popular hit. Here it is in Pidgin with an English translation:

By Kali Vatoko

Chorus

Yumi mas tingling Se yumi ol brata Everyone nomo Ol man New Hebrides

Verses

1. Kaontri blong yumi E mi gat tu kaf man Mekem man aelan Karanke tumas 2. Skul I strong samting I lusum taem long yu Be biaen long em Bai yu klat tumas 3. God 1 wetem yumi We pies yumi stap Wonem yumi mekem E —mi stap yet 4. Sorry olgeta Yu falla I go nao Blong leftem ap

Name New Hebrides

5. We pies yu wok

Remember New Hebrides

Yu pikinini Blong New Hebrides Everyone nomo Ol man New Hebrides.

We all must think All of us are brothers Every single one of us We’re people of the New Hebrides.

This country of ours It has two governments They make the people of the islands

Hopelessly confused.

Education is a powerful tool It takes time But if you persevere You’ll be glad in the long run.

God is waiting for all of us In our various places What we are going to do Remains to be seen. 1 feel for all of us You must now set to And lift right up The name of the New Hebrides.

Wherever you work Remember the New Hebrides You are the children Of the New Hebrides Every single one of us We are all New Hebridean.

This Solomon Islands frigate bird motif comes from an art resource book on Solomons art called Images and Islands by Adrian Allen and others. Frequently used as decoration on canoes, in some areas the frigate bird is regarded as a sacred bird (Thanks to the authors for permission to use this.)