Director of the Cultural Centre, Ralph Regenvanu, was honoured on two separate occasions in November 2006 for the work he has done over the past 12 years with the Cultural Centre and in the field of culture more generally in Vanuatu.
On the 10th of November, he was awarded a medal recognising the award of the title of Chevalier de l’ordre des arts et des lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters) by the Government of France. The medal was presented at a ceremony at the residence of the French Ambassador by the Ambassador, Mr Pierre Mayaudon. The title of Chevalier is awarded to 450 individuals each year by the Government of France.
In a separate ceremony at the National Museum on the 17th of November, Ralph was given the name Libehkamel Tah Tomat ("caretaker of the sacred nakamal/men’s house") by long-time fieldworker for the Nende speaking area of South West Bay, Malakula, Chief Matthias Batick. In this ceremony, Ralph ceremonially killed a pig and participated in dances to attain this name, which comes with his attainment of the first grade in one of the traditional grade-taking systems of South West Bay, Malakula. All the men fieldworkers of the Cultural Centre contributed to purchasing the pig used in the ceremony, which was held during their annual workshop.
Ralph Regenvanu retires as Director of the Cultural Centre at the end of December 2006. More information on the ceremony and Ralph's retirement can be seen at: http://www.news.vu/en/news/national/061119-Ralph-Regenvanu-honoured-on-leaving-Vanuatu-Kaljoral-Senta.shtml
