Kastom
Kastom is a Melanesian term that denotes customary practice, social order, and traditional law. It refers to the set of norms, rules, and institutions that have governed many communities in the Pacific, particularly in Vanuatu and parts of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Kastom encompasses kinship and marriage rules, land tenure and resource use, ritual obligations, taboos, and the authority of traditional leaders.
Kastom authorities, such as chiefs or village councils, derive legitimacy from ancestry, communal consensus, and ritual
Historical evolution: The term gained prominence during colonial and post-colonial periods as communities navigated contact with
Overall, kastom remains a dynamic, varied phenomenon that helps shape identities and local governance in Melanesian