Chief Roi Mata's Domain

Roi Mata was a paramount chief on Efate who died around 1600, and three places connected to him were inscribed together by UNESCO in 2008 as Vanuatu's first World Heritage site: Mangaas, where he lived, Fels Cave on Lelepa where he died, and Artok island where he was buried with dozens of others. The burial was excavated in the 1960s and matched the oral account held in the villages almost exactly.

Background

Roi Mata was the title of a line of chiefs in central Vanuatu, held by a long dynasty from the 11th to the 17th century. The best known holder is the last, believed to have lived around the year 1600, and because he is usually called Roi Mata with no further distinction, he is easily confused with the chiefs before him. The listed sites on Efate, Lelepa and Eretoka cover 886.31 hectares, with a buffer zone of 1,275.42 hectares. His grave, holding over 25 members of his retinue, was found by a French archaeologist in 1967, and grave markers of his wives stand on Eretoka as well.

Source: Wikipedia, "Roi Mata"

What to look for

• Mangaas - the residence site on the Efate mainland.
• Fels Cave - the cave on Lelepa where the chief died, with paintings inside.
• Artok island - the mass burial site, still under a strict prohibition.
• The matched account - excavation confirming the oral tradition in detail.

When to go

April to October is the dry season and boat conditions are best. Tours run on set days and must be booked. Swell cancels the island transfers.

Good to know

Access is by guided tour only and cannot be done independently. Artok remains under customary prohibition and is viewed rather than landed on in most cases. Boat transfers are cancelled in swell.

Nearby

Port Vila is southeast, and Nguna is northeast.

Key facts