Namba (clothing)

A namba is a traditional penis sheath from Vanuatu. Nambas are wrapped around the penis of the wearer, sometimes as their only clothing. Two tribes on Malakula, the Big Nambas and the Smol (Small) Nambas, are named for the size of their nambas.

Nambas are characteristic of central Vanuatu. In the northern islands, long mats wrapped around the waist are worn instead.

Etymology
The word is derived from a misinterpreted singular of Bislama nambas, itself a borrowing from Port Sandwich or Rerep na-mbas "penis wrapper", from Proto-North-Central Vanuatu *na "article" and *ᵐbʷasa "penis wrapper", with cognates including Tamambo buasa.