tolai

The Tolai, also known as the Kuanua people, are an indigenous Melanesian ethnic group of eastern New Britain, Papua New Guinea. They are primarily located in East New Britain Province, with communities in the Gazelle and Rabaul Districts. The term Tolai is widely used by outsiders, while the people themselves commonly refer to their language as Kuanua.

The Tolai language, or Kuanua, is an Austronesian language in the Oceanic sub-branch. It is spoken by most Tolai communities and is often learned alongside Tok Pisin or English, which are commonly used in education and commerce in the region.

Culture and society in Tolai communities traditionally emphasize kinship ties and customary exchange networks. Historically engaged in coastal trade with neighboring groups, many Tolai today participate in modern urban and rural economies, including agriculture (taro, yams, bananas), small businesses, and wage labor. The Tolai are predominantly Christian, with various denominations present, though some traditional beliefs and practices persist in ceremonial contexts.

History and recent events have shaped the Tolai region. During the colonial era, the area was part of German New Guinea and later administered by Australia. The 1994 eruption of Tavurvur near Rabaul caused widespread destruction, leading to evacuations and the relocation of the provincial capital to Kokopo; Rabaul remains inhabited but diminished as a major urban center.

Today, Tolai communities span rural villages and towns within East New Britain. They are one of the province’s largest ethnolinguistic groups, with Kuanua continuing to be a central element of cultural identity and daily life, alongside ongoing language maintenance and cultural activities.