Facing off in Savo

In the Solomon Islands, MARK HARADA meets some locals whose welcome is so warm, it’s almost fiery. But there’s no squabbling in this square-off…

In Kuila village on Savo, an island just over an hour away by small boat from Honiara, there are locals that want to get in your face – literally, though in the nicest possible way.

Adjacent to Sunset Lodge, the hamlet’s only and very basic accommodation property, we’re given a local song and dance performance as authentic as you would expect to find in a place so untouched by tourism.

The women are first up. Our guide on the island, Cassiano, says their dance is unique to Savo. And we’re told it involves interpretations of inter-island feuds, with fauna like local brown birds also represented.

But this is dance and song that doesn’t need to be understood to be felt. Slow yet stirring, it seems more traditional than tourist too; with the dancers scantily clad, there’s no watering down of customs here.

Author: Mark Harada

Publisher: Traveltalk

Date: October 24 2019

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