From the moment I left home for the South Pacific, my intention was to give my gray One4Us cap away to a local person who I felt embodied the inclusive vision of the brand.
My interest in One4Us flows out of my four-decade friendship with its CEO and founder, Tony Johnson. The stated ideals of this grassroots Kansas sportswear company is “to spread love, hope, and encouragement… and dismantle the limiting beliefs that perpetuate competition and despair.”
This in mind, Tony told me that he wants the “Us” pronoun to be as expansive and inclusive as possible, encompassing anyone who endeavors to put community first — and broaden our notions of who that community might include.
As I traveled in Vanuatu, I quickly realized that nobody deserved my One4Us cap more than Numa Fred Longga.
Though Numa was a soccer star as a young man, his playing career was derailed by a knee injury. After surgery, Numa’s first question to the doctor was: “How soon until I can get back out and compete?” The doctor’s reply was: “If you want to keep your leg, never.”
Instead of sinking into despair, Numa threw himself into his studies, eventually becoming the curator of the Malekula Cultural Center. Here, Numa was tasked with preserving and promoting indigenous culture and traditions on an island where people speak 30 different languages (despite being half the size of Rhode Island).
Numa helped coordinate the journey Kiki and I took around Malekula, and he introduced our palates to Vanuatu specialties like laplap and kava. He interpreted not just Bislama (Vanuatu’s lingua franca) for us, but also Malekulan dialects like Atchin, Wala, and Rano. A few years ago, Numa even helped translate the New Testament into his native dialect, Uripiv.
Perhaps most meaningfully for Kiki and me, Numa was great company — a gentle, good-humored family man who was as comfortable hosting outside guests (who can at times include international researchers and Melanesian dignitaries) as he was making time to play with his grandchildren.
Everyone who endeavors to wear One4Us gear would do well to emulate the open-hearted community spirit embodied by Numa Fred Longga of Vanuatu!
Note: “Dispatches” are short vignettes, profiles, and mini-essays written and posted from the road, often in tandem with my Instagram account. I don’t host a “comments” section, but I’m happy to hear your thoughts via my Contact page.
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