Nahgol is a tradition that predates the British and French integration and conversion of the society to Christianity. Nahgol is a ritual that has strong ties to the people's original spiritual belief system, animism; the belief that spirits manifest in objects, creatures, and all things within the natural world. 

 

The origin of land diving is described in a legend told by the Pentecost people of a woman who was dissatisfied with her husband. It is sometimes claimed that the woman was upset with the aggressive, vigorous nature of her husband's sexual desires, resulting in her running away to the forest. Her husband followed after her, so she climbed a banyan tree. Her husband climbed after her, but before he could reach her, she tied a llanas vine around her ankles and dove from the tree. Her husband jumped after her, but he did not tie the llanas vines to his own ankles, so he fell to his death. Because of this, the men of Pentecost perform the original diving to signify that they would not be tricked again.

 

Later generations of the Pentecost performed the ritual as a sacrifice to the spirits to ensure that they would have a successful yam harvest. Though the act is not meant to kill the diver (though it has happened on occassion), the act of courage is meant display worthiness, courage and masculinity. Young boys perform the ritual as a rite of passage into manhood. 

 

During the conversion to Christianity, the act was discouraged as a pagan practice resulting in its near extinction. However, the practice has been renewed and has evolved to have new meaning (the evolution of the practice will be discussed in a later section. If you wish to read, Click here).