Traditional beliefs and religion The Kanaks were known to
worship their ancestors. This worship was embodied in the
sepulchre, sacred stones, and devotional hearths where they offered sacrifices. Today, most Kanaks are
Christians. Religion is an important aspect of Kanak culture. The
Catholic church in Nouméa is attended by Kanaks, who form nearly 50% of the population of Catholics in New Caledonia (next only to the Europeans). Also, the majority of
Protestants are Kanaks. Some Kanaks follow traditional beliefs. According to the traditional beliefs of the Kanak people, the sea is sacred as it provides them with "fish for food", so they treat it with great reverence. The folk stories created by the Kanak people attest to this fact and are also strictly followed as unwritten laws. Some of the important aspects of the oral laws relate to environmental protection and conservation, such as the closure of fishing operations when the fish stocks are on the decline, and fishing rights in certain areas are strictly observed with respect to locals. In 2004, a proposal was put forward to promote the entire coastal region as a
World Heritage Site. It is made of sliced root vegetables which might include
taro,
manioc,
yams and
coconut milk. Other local ingredients used in Kanak cuisine include
Rousettus (flying foxes) and local deer; marine staples such as lagoon and coral reef fish (including
dawa), as well as crabs and lobsters. Paita beans are locally grown
haricots, while
custard-apple,
lime and
saffron are other local ingredients.
Fine arts The Kanak arts of sculpture, dance, music and theatre have become more popular since the 1990s with the efforts of the Agency for Development of Kanak Culture ADCK Art forms in Kanak culture comprise: ;Lapita pottery The ancient Lapita potteries date to 1000 BC. Essentially a women's craft, the pottery is generally decorated with geometric patterns and stylised human faces, although there is variation between northern and southern New Caledonian pottery. The various handles and glazes have pinhole-incised designs made from tooth combs. The pottery was made from clay deposits found in the islands. ;Paintings Painting is a recent art form common among women artists. Famous artists include Yvette Bouquet from Koumac who has produced paintings with Pacific and Oceania themes, Paula Boi, whose paintings are of more abstract scenes, and Denise Tuvouane and Maryline Thydjepache who use mixed art forms. Bus stop shelters are common places where their paintings are illustrated. ;Wood sculpture Wood sculpture represents the spirit of Kanak culture of which the
Flèche faîtière, which resembles a small totem pole with symbolic shapes, is the most common. A mini
Stonehenge-looking religious memorial near the village in
L'Île-des-Pins has a display of religious carvings. Other wooden objects include war clubs carved from the strongest wood, made in the form of a phallic head (
casse-tete), a lethal bird's beak club (''bec d'oiseau''), and spears made from niaouli trees used to burn enemy houses. , late 14th century—early 15th century Wooden carvings in the shape of hawks, ancient gods, serpents and turtles are also popular. The
Grand Huts, also known as grande case (chef's hut), are decorated with the filial of
fleche faitiere representing the ancestral spirits, symbolic of transition between the world of the dead and the world of the living. The wood carving is shaped like the spear-like carving that adorns the top of the
grande case. It comprises three parts; the flat crowned face representing the ancestor with a long, the rounded pole run through by conch shells mounted on it that represents the ancestor's voice, and a base with the pole fixed to it to symbolise the link between the clan and the chief. The central piece is also flanked by wooden pieces with sharp points (facing downwards) that are intended to prevent bad spirits enveloping the ancestor in the central part. In view of very strong nature of this form of dance, with a trance-like status attained by the dancers, these have been banned; the last such dance reported was in 1951.
Music and oral literature Music, dance and singing are part of many a Kanak ceremonial function such as initiation, courting and mourning. Conch shells are blown by an appointed person to represent a clan chief's arrival or the voice of an ancestor. Rhythm instruments used include Bwanjep, used during ceremonies by a group of men;
Jew's harp, (
wadohnu in the Nengone language where it originated) made of dried piece of coconut palm leaf held between the teeth and an attached segment of soft nerve leaf; coconut-leaf whizzer, a piece of coconut leaf attached to a string and twirled that produces a noise like a humming bee; oboe, made of hollow grass stems or bamboo; end-blown flute, made of 50 cm long hollowed
pawpaw leaf stem; bamboo stamping tubes that are struck vertically against the ground and played at major events; percussion instruments (hitting sticks, palm sheaths); rattles that are worn on the legs made of coconut leaves, shells and certain fruits. Kanak groups such as
Bethela first made the recordings on cassette around 1975 or 1976.
Art festivals In 1971 the women's association, Smiling Melanesian Village Women's Groups(Mouvement pour un Souriant Village Melanesian) was formed and advocated the idea of a cultural festival to promote Kanak arts. As a result of this movement the first festival of Melanesian arts, "
Melanesia 2000", was held in Nouméa in September 1975, supported by Jean-Marie Tjibaou. Kanak arts festivals became popular with two international events held early in the 1990s that created the awareness of Kanak arts. The first exhibition of modern-day wood sculptors and painters was held at Ko i Neva, which was also published as contemporary Kanak arts. This was followed by a large exhibition of Kanak arts in Paris known as "De Jade et de Nacre – Patrimoine Artistique Kanak (Jade and Mother of Pearl – Kanak Artistic Heritage". The Centre Cultural Tjibaou also stages occasional art exhibitions. A popular quadrennial event is the Festival of Pacific Arts where the indigenous people of all Pacific nations and people gather to display the Pacific's cultural heritage. == Contemporary issues ==