Ūfanafana

Ūfanafana. Arrow. This is a handmade ūfanafana made of ofe (bamboo) and wood fausaga (bound) together using 'afa (sennit). The shaft of the arrow is made of ofe (bamboo) that is it's natural light brown colour. However the ofe is darkened around the its joints and closer to the spear head. The base of the shaft has a semi-circular indent that would fit the string of a bow when the ūfanafana is in use. Fausaga to the top of the shaft with 'afa are four barbed prongs. These prongs are black in colour and made of a light type of wood. The prongs are fausaga around the ofe with the barbs facing inward. Two pieces of 'afa are used, one to secure the prongs to the ofe, and another to hold the prongs shape. The ūfanafana was used with a bow and was shot into a school of fish from paopao (outrigger canoe). The inward facing barbed prongs ensured that more than one fish at a time could be caught and securely held with in them. The ūfanafana was created in likeness to the tao matatolu (three-pronged spear) which was also used for fishing in Samoa.

Other Name

Fishing arrow (English)

Place

Samoa/Pacific

Accession Number

1917.41

Accession Date

1917

Other Id

8704 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific