What is "fanla"

Fanla is a small village situated in the north of Ambrym Island, in the archipelago of Vanuatu in Melanesia, in the province of Malampa. The original name of this place was Saanembur Lonbato.

This is a Kastom Village, which represents the traditional values of the region. The village population is about 250 persons. Wanmelbu, a legendary resident, created the foundations of the customary chief ranks still current in the northern part of the island. His eldest son, Tingtingru, 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.