Port-Vila, Vanuatu – Thursday 22 May 2025: The National University of Vanuatu (NUV) is proud to support the revitalisation of the Sowa language, once declared extinct, following the success of the first-ever community gathering dedicated to Sowa, held in May 2025 in Waterfall village, Pentecost Island.
Led by Chief Isaiah Tabi in partnership with local leaders and with support from the National University of Vanuatu (NUV) and funding from Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP), the two-day workshop gathered more than 50 enthusiastic participants from across south-central Pentecost. Attendees of all ages came together to learn, speak, and celebrate the Sowa language – many for the first time in their lives, and for some, the first time this century.
Sowa was traditionally spoken in the areas of Lebati, Vanmelang, Lalbung, Lalpurerep and Verenam, but like many indigenous languages of Vanuatu, it fell into disuse in the late 20th century, following the devastating impact of European diseases and cultural disruptions. It was gradually replaced by Apma, a neighbouring language, though some words and phrases have persisted in community memory.
The recent workshop, part of a year-long language documentation and revitalisation project led by local Chief Isaiah Tabi with the technical support of Andrew Gray, marks a turning point. Participants explored Sowa’s vocabulary and grammar through sessions on greetings, numbers, place names, family terms, food, body parts, trees, and actions. Elders contributed memories and confirmed linguistic details, while younger attendees actively engaged, practised, and documented the language with deep curiosity and pride.
The emotional highlight of the workshop was a prayer delivered in Sowa by 79-year-old Steven Bulere, son of one of the last native speakers. “It was a moving moment for many,” said Chief Isaiah, who has been documenting the language since 1998. “For a long time, I wasn’t sure if anyone else cared. But this gathering showed that Sowa still lives in the hearts of our people. This gives me new hope for its future.”
Short community dictionaries are now being developed, and audio interviews recorded during the workshop will be preserved by ELDP for future generations.
Andrew Gray, a schoolteacher and technical advisor to the project, stressed the long-term impact of the initiative. “A hundred years from now, people will still encounter the Sowa language in place names and stories,” he said. “Thanks to this project, they’ll be able to explore not just the language, but the dedication of their ancestors to cultural preservation.”
NUV is honoured to support this landmark effort and looks forward to continuing its work with communities to preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage of Vanuatu.
