The Melanesian are an ethno-geographical peoples predominantly originating from Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, or Solomon Islands in Asia Pacific.

As an ethno-geographical people, Melanesia is not a country, but instead a "culture area." Culture area is a term used by anthropologists to refer to a geographical region where people share many of the same traits. These traits include family structure, marriage rules, organization of society, and ways of gaining survival needs or making a living. Melanesia itself is part of a larger culture area called Oceania that includes Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, and Australia.

Over 1000 distinct ethno-linguistic people groups reside the geographical Melanesian area. With this in mind, Melanesian people in the United States speak a variety of languages, referred to as Papuan languages, along with being conversant in English.

Historically, Melanesians had a strong orientation to ancestors and the past with ancestral ghosts and other spirits participating in everyday social life. Human effort in the uncertain projects of war, food production, and the pursuit of prestige was thought to succeed only when complemented by support from invisible beings and forces, which were manipulated by magical formulas and elicited through prayer and sacrifice.

In essence, religion and magic were not clearly distinguishable and pervaded every aspect of a Melanesians everyday life.

Christianity has a long history among Melanesians. As a result, a majority of Melanesian people are Anglican while another percentage, over 10 percent, adhere to several different evangelical Protestant churches.