Yumi, Yumi, Yumi! Trivia Quiz

Answer: We, we, we

The words and music of the Vanuatu national anthem were written in the local creole dialect by the musician and patriot François Vincent Ayssav. The chorus and first verse are given below in the creole version, followed by the English translation.

Yumi, yumi, yumi i glat long talem se
Yumi, yumi, yumi ol man blong Vanuatu

God i givim ples ia long yumi,
Yumi glat tumas long hem,
Yumi strong mo yumi fri long hem,
Yumi brata evriwan!

We, we, we are happy to proclaim
We, we, we are the people of Vanuatu

God has given us this land,
We are grateful for this,
We are strong and we are free in this land,
We are all brothers!

Answer: South Pacific Ocean

Vanuatu is an archipelago that can be found in the South Pacific Ocean around 1000 miles east of Australia, in the Melanesian subregion of Oceania. Other nearby island groups include Fiji, the Solomon Islands and the French territory of New Caledonia.

Answer: New Hebrides

The name New Hebrides was given to the islands by the English explorer James Cook, who visited them in 1774. Settlement by Europeans began in earnest in the nineteenth century, especially by the French and British. In 1906 the two colonial nations agreed to govern the islands jointly, an unusual situation which lasted until the islands attained independence and took the name Vanuatu.

Answer: 83

Most sources state that there are 83 islands in total, of which around 65 are inhabited on a permanent basis. They are sometimes sub-divided further into groups including the seven Torres Islands in the north, the ten or so Banks Islands just south of them, and the Shepherd Islands further south.

Answer: Mount Tabwemasana

Mount Tabwemasana is located on the west coast of the island of Espiritu Santo.
The other options are all highest points in other countries or island groups in the Oceania region. Mount Kosciuszko (7,310 feet, or 2,228 metres) is the highest point on mainland Australia. Mount Cook (12,218 feet or 3,724 metres) is the highest mountain in New Zealand, and Mauna Kea (13,803 feet or 4,207 metres) is the highest point of the American state of Hawaii.

Answer: Bislama

Bislama is a local creole language whose vocabulary is largely based on English, but with grammar and phonology based on various indigenous languages. Its name is derived from the word "Beach-la-Mer", the name given to the sea cucumbers which were harvested on the islands during the nineteenth century.

The word became associated with the local "pidgin" language that developed as a means of communication between the natives and foreign settlers.

Answer: Christianity

Over 90% of Vanuatu's inhabitants are Christians, as the result of missionary efforts during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Prior to this, the indigenous religion was a form of animism, existing in a variety of forms across the different island groups.

Answer: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

The Melanesian cargo cults, most of which grew up during and after World War Two, are based on the worship of specific elements of more technologically advanced Western societies, which are seen as bringing wealth and related benefits. The "Prince Philip Movement" is followed by a small group of inhabitants of Tanna, and grew up the 1950s and 60s, when the people began to associate Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, with the son of a local mountain spirit from an ancient folk legend.

Answer: Port Vila

Port Vila is located on the island of Efate, the most populous of the Vanuatuan islands. In 2009 it had a population of just over 40,000, making it the largest city in Vanuatu. Most tourists who visit Vanuatu make Port Vila their base, and it has a small airport providing air links to some of the other islands.

Suva is the capital of Fiji, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and Caracas is the capital of Venezuela.

Answer: 1980

Following the establishment of various political groups that lobbied for independence during the 1960s and 70s, the French and British agreed to hand over control to the indigenous peoples. On 30 July 1980 an independent government was established, led by the Vanua'aku Pati ("My Land Party") under Prime Minister Walter Lini.

The handover was not entirely trouble free, with the separatist Vemarana party under Jimmy Stevens also attempting to seize control. After a few brief skirmishes during August 1980, known colloquially as the "Coconut War", the separatists were defeated, and Stevens imprisoned. Since then, Vanuatu's political system has remained largely peaceful.