Culture of the Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands chief wearing a spectacular porpoise tooth chest ornament and kap-kap. Portrait of Irobaoa of Suafa, north Malaita, circa 1910.
Kapkap, 19th century, Solomon Islands

The culture of the Solomon Islands reflects the extent of the differentiation and diversity among the groups living within the Solomon Islands archipelago, which lies within Melanesia in the Pacific Ocean, with the peoples distinguished by island, language, topography, and geography. The cultural area includes the nation state of Solomon Islands and the Bougainville Island, which is a part of Papua New Guinea.[1]

The Solomon Islands includes some culturally Polynesian societies which lie outside the main region of Polynesian influence, known as the Polynesian Triangle. There are seven Polynesian outliers within the Solomon Islands: Anuta, Bellona, Ontong Java, Rennell, Sikaiana, Tikopia, and Vaeakau-Taumako.

  1. ^ "Solomon Islands Profile". BBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2013.