KBS has ambitiously created a documentary series titled ‘Volcano, Humanity,’ which tells a story of hot coexistence with volcanoes, starting with Part 1, ‘Grandfather Yasur.’ The warm and calm narration by actor Kim Nam-hee, familiar from ‘The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate,’ accompanied the first part, which shared the stories of the people of Vanuatu living alongside volcanoes, as well as warnings about the climate crisis that has reached this ‘heaven on earth.’
In the KBS1 documentary insight ‘Volcano, Humanity’ aired on the 28th, we visited the Ikurup and Narak tribes living under the perilous volcano of Vanuatu, known as ‘the happiest country in the world’ in the South Pacific.
The title of Part 1, ‘Grandfather Yasur,’ refers to the active volcano ‘Yasur Volcano’ on Tanna Island, which erupts lava every 10 minutes. Despite spewing red flames that seem to take everything away in an instant, Yasur is regarded as a family-like figure by the Ikurup tribe in the mountainous village and the Narak tribe in the coastal village, coexisting with nature in its primordial form.
What are the hopes of the Ikurup tribe living under the ‘Legend of Yasur’?
In the tropical rainforest, which is like the lungs of Tanna Island, Ikurup tribe man Jodi and boys who have completed their circumcision ceremony visited a mysterious cave imbued with the legend of Yasur. The boys were living independently away from their families as a rite of passage to become full members of the tribe.
Until their wounds heal, they cannot meet any women, including their mothers, and the fathers take care of the children. They spend time learning from their fathers how to obtain all necessities from nature. The boys learned survival skills in the jungle by making traps from branches and vines, and even crafting bows to shoot. Jodi expressed his hope that the knowledge he learned from his father would be passed down to his sons and grandsons.
After completing their independent living, the boys returned to the village, where the villagers gathered in the square to welcome the now-grown boys. As soon as they arrived in the village, the boys danced in a circle to express their awe of the volcano. Jodi said, “When the boys return home after their independent living, they realize what they have experienced in nature and how strong they have become in the great outdoors. I hope that our children and their children will maintain the beautiful nature and traditions for a long time to come,” conveying their desire to live alongside Yasur.
No electricity, but a fulfilling life of the Narak tribe with ‘the gift of the volcano’ hot springs
The Narak tribe, who received the gift of nature created by volcanic activity, also lived while preserving the way of life passed down through generations. Narak man Dan took his daughter Melissa, who said, “I love swimming with Dad,” to a once-sacred coastal cave, saying, “When I first saw this place as a child, I felt awe at the natural beauty created by the volcano. I want to give you the same feeling.”
The volcano also gifted the Narak tribe with hot springs. Melissa introduced the benefits, saying, “Our village has no electricity, but we have the gift of ‘hot springs’ given by the volcano. Washing my hair in the hot springs gets rid of head lice.” The Narak tribe cherished the hot springs, which helped with washing, bathing, and cooking.
Just as the Ikurup boys underwent circumcision, the Narak girls went through a rite of passage to adulthood by cutting their skin to tattoo the tribe after their first menstruation. Nine-year-old Melissa showed determination, saying, “I’m scared to think about having a knife on my body. But I have to do it someday. It’s our ritual...”
‘Angry Yasur’... “The balance of nature has been disrupted” both in the sea and on land
For the Narak tribe, there was another gateway to becoming ‘descendants of the volcano.’ Dan took his daughter Melissa to the ‘volcanic ash plains,’ which had become barren land where no life could grow due to volcanic ash, recalling, “The eruption of Yasur over 20 years ago changed everything,” remembering the moment when the lake collapsed and swept everything away like the end of the world. However, he reassured her, “Do not be afraid. It’s just a natural phenomenon that occurs like the seasons. Yasur is not a ‘god of destruction.’ He loves us all,” as he faced the crater of Yasur. Dan and Melissa then danced and sang to inform their ancestor and family, ‘Grandfather Yasur,’ that the descendants had arrived.
However, due to the climate crisis, the Ikurup and Narak tribes were facing difficulties. The sea, which used to give generously, has become desertified as water temperatures rise. The Narak tribe, who ventured far into the sea to catch fish, found none. The Ikurup tribe, who farmed on fertile land thanks to nutrients from volcanic ash, saw their crops affected as Yasur erupted violently, blocking sunlight and acidifying the soil.
The chief of the Ikurup tribe sought help from ‘Yasurmine,’ a spiritual being who communicates with the spirits living in the giant banyan tree where Yasur’s spirits gather. After a long wait, Yasurmine conveyed Yasur’s message: “Yasur says the balance of nature has been disrupted. Yasur will still take care of us, but we must also respect Yasur, and humans and nature must protect each other.”
‘Volcano, Humanity’ captured not only the essence of the volcano in ultra-high-definition 4K HDR but also the vibrant life of Vanuatu’s nature, making viewers feel a sense of grandeur. The soft and gentle narration by actor Kim Nam-hee further immersed the audience in the lives of the people of Vanuatu, leaving them eager for the next episode.
The three-part series ‘Volcano, Humanity’ will air Part 2, ‘The Mountain of Great Gods,’ on December 5, and Part 3, ‘The Giant of Eternal Fire,’ on December 12, at 10 PM.
