Based on a life story recorded by Jimmy Stevens himself, this article discusses Nagriamel leadership. Famous in the Pacific area as a personage, J.T.P.S. Moses led Nagriamel's destiny until 1964 from land struggle to politics and secessionism. Using a psychological and sociological approach, the author presents Moses as a creature of the New Hebrides Condominium, as a syncretic leader looking for cultural identity (being a half cast) : then he analyses Moses' leadership as traditional big-man behaviour, with the main emphasis on prestige investment and followers or clientele. From a theoretical point of view, it appears that Moses is an example of personal success inside a cultural context which permits his success. He seems to be the bearer of a cultural message from the "men bush"; but used in the New Hebrides colonial context in a way which is mainly concerned with personal interest. Having no message himself, Moses is more an example of leadership in a modern Melanesian social movement than a charismatic leader.