Fanla is a small village situated in the north of Ambrym

Ambrym

Ambrym is a volcanic island in the archipelago of Vanuatu . It is well known for its highly active volcanic activity that includes lava lake formation.-Etymology:...

 Island, in the archipelago of Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...

 in Melanesia

Melanesia

Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...

, in the province of Malampa. The original name of this place was Saanembur Lonbato.

This is a Kastom Village

Kastom

Kastom is a pijin word used to refer to traditional culture, including religion, economics, art and magic in Melanesia.The term is the generally accepted anthropology term to describe such phenomenon as well as the common and lay term used in everyday language.The word derives from the Australian...

, which represents the traditional values of the region. The village population is about 250 persons. Wanmelbu

Wanmelbu

Wanmelbu is the first known ancestor of the Fanla commuity in North Ambrym, Vanuatu. He's from the western part of the island, in the area of Ranbeteon. He left his family & got lost in the sea. The young man finally reached the Linbul shore and befriended the local families.Chief Molbu, owner of...

, a legendary resident, created the foundations of the customary chief ranks still current in the northern part of the island. His eldest son, Tingtingru

Tingtingru

Tingtingru is the first born son of the legendary Wanmelbu, chief of Fanla, in North Ambrym, Vanuatu.He is the second high chief of this place and contributed a lot in the traditional development of kastom economy and the chief ranking system in North Ambrym. Tingtingru had a vision during his...

, had a dream vision of tams-tams (atingting), major components of the traditional tribal art of North Ambrym.

By Ambrym tradition, the people who live in the village of Fanla are all, without exception, the descendants of Wanmelbu.

Notable residents

Magetafanla Roromal

According to oral tradition, he met captain James Cook

James Cook

Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...

 (who actually saw the island only from the sea). Cook allegedly baptized the island under the name of the welcome gift presented by Roromal himself, an ignam, by pronouncing the words "am rêm" ("Here is your yam"). This phrase later became Ambrem or Ambrym. (The ancient name of the island was "Tumurin".)

Magekon Malmere

The first son of Fanla to repeat the ranking process.

Bule Tainmal

The most lauded leader of the island's history.

Tofor

Tofor

Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal was a Vanuatan chief.-Biography:He was the first born of one of the most influential families in North Ambrym. His family were famous for their proficiency with magic and sorcery. The entire population of Vanuatu had the highest regard for this Wanmelbu's family...

-kon Rengrengmal

The last person to have reached the high ranks, in 1972; died in 1999.

Genealogy of the Chiefs of Fanla Village

• Wanmelbu
  Wanmelbu
  Wanmelbu is the first known ancestor of the Fanla commuity in North Ambrym, Vanuatu. He's from the western part of the island, in the area of Ranbeteon. He left his family & got lost in the sea. The young man finally reached the Linbul shore and befriended the local families.Chief Molbu, owner of...
  
  
• Tingtingru
  Tingtingru
  Tingtingru is the first born son of the legendary Wanmelbu, chief of Fanla, in North Ambrym, Vanuatu.He is the second high chief of this place and contributed a lot in the traditional development of kastom economy and the chief ranking system in North Ambrym. Tingtingru had a vision during his...
  
  
• Golbahan
• Tanmonong Bariu Meto Bussumel
• Tanmonong Libu
• Magetafanla Roromal
• Magekon Malmere
• Bule Tainmal (? – 1972)
• Tofor Rengrengmal (1921–1999)
• Bonglibu César (1962)
• Ben Wiu Meltofor (1984)