Santa Catalina holds traditional spear fighting event
In a remote part of Solomon Islands, a unique annual festival has been going on for centuries. It's known as Wogasia where family members sort out their differences via a spirited spear fight. Sounds risky yes but villagers say another threat on the island is proving far more dangerous.
Transcript
00:00 It's a long way from the dusty streets of the capital Honiara.
00:06 A plane ride, a car ride and a boat ride.
00:12 The island of Santa Catalina emerges and the locals are preparing for a special festival
00:17 called Wogasia.
00:18 It marks the beginning and ending of our year.
00:24 Wogasia is in our blood.
00:27 The people of Santa Catalina live a simple life of farming, fishing and family.
00:32 But all that changes when the festival comes around.
00:39 The festival teaches us which tribe we belong to.
00:45 It starts at night.
00:46 Villagers banish evil spirits away.
00:52 Then dawn comes.
00:54 For the people here on Santa Catalina, it's a unique tradition that still continues.
01:00 All these youngsters are ready and keen for the day.
01:08 And they're all waiting for the most important event, the spear fight.
01:14 Men from the two different tribes hurl spears at each other to settle grievances for past
01:19 wrongs.
01:22 It's important for us to keep our traditional way of doing things.
01:26 It's a dangerous practice.
01:28 But according to village leaders, something else impacting the island is far more dangerous.
01:35 Climate change has spoiled our land, our fruit trees.
01:38 The yearly yam harvest once triggered the start of the festival.
01:43 Because of salty soil, villagers now have to buy yams from the mainland.
01:47 But the people of Santa Catalina say they will adapt.
01:51 And Waugasea will always live on.
01:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]