After the Second World War, an opposition to the British called the Marching Rule Movement begun. Self government was permitted in 1976, and two years later the country became independent. The head of state was the British Monarch, and the first prime minister, Peter Kenilorea, was elected from the National Parliament and lasted 10 years. In 1986 the islands were devastated by Typhoon Namu. The art of Melanesia has a sculptural and pictorial tradition, but artworks are often combined with music, dance, and oral literature.
Melanesian artists work on social and religious themes.
They are cultural forms resulting from the creative manipulation of movements, sounds, words, or materials. After Europeans reached the islands Melanesians got more efficient metal tools for wood carving and new visual images. Trade goods such as blankets, bark cloth, basketry or wooden containers were produced for sale. But the introduction of Christianity put an end to the production of images, and those that already existed were destroyed by missionaries and converted islanders. Today the production of images of the old gods has been revived for sale to tourists.