Shefa Province

Shefa is a province of Vanuatu, made up of the islands of Epi, Éfaté, Sheperd and other minor islands. Its name derives from the initial letters of Shepherd and Éfaté. In its 1,455 km² of total extension, 45,280 people live. Its capital is Port Vila, which is also the main city of the country.

History

In the 1860s, Havanna Harbour, north of Éfaté, was the center of development in Shefa, based on cotton plantations. With the decline in cotton prices, farmers switched to corn and coffee, before devoting themselves mainly to coconut farming and cattle raising, which are the main agricultural products today.

The French and English continued to have conflicting interests in Vanuatu (then known as the New Hebrides) until in 1887 they signed a condominium over the islands and therefore also over Shefa.

Shefa province was a strategic location during World War II for the Allies, mainly for US troops, although it was also used by Australian troops. Large war installations were placed in the north of Éfaté along Havanna Harbour, including Tanaliou, Siviri and Saama, and some islands close to Éfaté, such as Moso Island.

Politics

The seat of the Shefa Provincial Council is in Port Vila, where political and administrative decisions are made. Representatives from Shefa Province number 18 and are elected every two years, with the President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President and Treasurer being nominated at that time.

Geography

The islands of Shefa are of volcanic origin. The only active volcano in the province is on Epi Island, although there are other submarine and extinct volcanoes that are scattered throughout the entire province.

Shefa is made up of approximately 27 islands, with Efaté being the most populous. It is located in the south of the province and is surrounded by several smaller islands, including Iririki, Ifira, Eratap, Erakor, Erueti Lep, Eratoka, Lelepa, Moso, Nguna, Pele, Kakuhla and Emao. To the north are the Shepherd Islands, a group that includes Naore, Etarik, Matasao, Makura, Emae, Buninga, Tongariki, Tongoa, Ewose, and Laika. Further north is the province's other large island, Epi, as well as Tefala, Namuka and Lamen. Some of these islands are uninhabited.

Some of the islands of Shefa do not have permanent watercourses and this must be collected for drinking and hygiene from rainwater; this activity can be a very complex and tenacious exercise during dry years. Of the rivers of Shefa we can mention the Tagabe, the Epule and the Rentapau.

The region is dotted with reefs for scuba diving, including Pango Wall and Mele Reef. Endangered species such as tortoises and dugongs can be seen in the area near Erakor Island and in marine sanctuaries.

Marine sanctuaries are becoming an increasingly popular way of trying to preserve marine life around Shefa. This move is also an attempt to increase tourism. There are several parks and protected marine sanctuaries.

Culture

There are approximately five languages, in addition to the national language, Bislama, spoken in Shefa and also including Ifira/Mele, South Efate, North Nakanamanga and Efate and Outer Efate islands, Namakir of Tongoa and parts from Emae, with the language emae (an outlier of Polynesia, in contrast to the other Melanesian languages). French and English are also widely spoken throughout the province. Shefa Province is home to Chief Roi Mata, a domain located in the northwest of Efate that covers from the Mangililui and Mangaas area to Lelepa Island to Eretoka Island (hat-shaped). The Chief Roi Mata Domain was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. It is the first such site to be inscribed in Vanuatu and is a very popular attraction among tourists. The legend of Roi Mata tells of a powerful chief who brought peace to Efate and its surrounding islands after years of clan fighting and warfare. Jealous of his condition, the chief's brother shot him with a poison dart. Chief Roi Mata succumbed to the poison inside the Fels cave on Lelepa Island. He was later buried in Eretoka. Many living men and women were buried next to him. This oral history was passed down for more than 400 years until a French archaeologist confirmed the tale by excavating the tomb and finding some 40 skeletons adorned with jewels denoting high value. The remaining Kastom peoples in Shefa province, i.e. people in the habit of wearing grass skirts and blowing shells daily, no longer exist, however many of the traditional cultural practices continue to be held. strength in Shefa. Despite Western influence, people consume predominantly traditional foods, such as coconuts, bananas, and cabbage, rather than packaged foods.