Santa Ana, Solomon Islands

String Bands are popular throughout Melanesia, but this one add something special.  The band in Santa Ana uses old washed-up rubber sandals to strike varying lengths of PVC pipe for a sound that resonates through the village.  Flutes accompany the hollow bass notes.

 

Later on, dark and light figures stormed into the village and staged a battle of historic proportions.

 

Audio Recorded by Patrick Nason

Photos by Roy Mangersnes and Raul Touzon