Melanesian Studies Commons^™

Reflections On Vivid Vagabondage: Ambrym, Thomas Dick

disClosure: A Journal of Social Theory

In the island nation of Vanuatu in the South West Pacific Ocean, the practice of sand drawing – creating patterns in the sand to record history, tell stories, and pass on intergenerational wisdom – has been recognised by UNESCO as a treasure of intangible cultural heritage. In 2007, the author spent several months traveling through the islands of Vanuatu on his way to the National Sand Drawing Festival. This piece of creative non-fiction distills the experience of living in Vanuatu for over five years with reflections on doctoral fieldwork in a transnational setting.