Bitu ni Kesakesa

human history

Bitu ni kesakesa. Pattern roller. Made of bitu (bamboo). Cylindrical in shape and carved around the circumference of the bitu with parallel stripes. Closed (uncut) ends. Residue of black and red/brown pigment visible across the roller. Five holes drilled into an end.

Accession number: 503799 Last Update: 20 Sept 2018

Other Name

Bamboo pattern roller (English)

Place

Fiji

Accession Number

1925.92

Accession Date

30 Apr 1925

Other Id

13477 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

Public Access Text

These rollers were used mainly in inland Viti Levu. 'With their long grooves cut into a length of bamboo, these rollers are used to apply a pattern to the sombre dark tapa made in the mountain districts of Viti Levu. In the local mountain dialect of Fijian, rollers with medium-spaced grooves were known as baba. 'The Santa Cruz group consists of a small number of islands including Ndende, the central and largest island, which is often referred to as Santa Cruz. Although there are a number of languages, some of which are unrelated, a degree of mutual tolerance and understanding was reached through a complex trading system. Ndende is one of the few places in the Pacific where both weaving and tapa manufacture were practised.' Neich and Pendergrast, 'Pacific Tapa', 1997.

Bitu ni Kesakesa

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Bitu ni Kesakesa

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Bitu ni Kesakesa

Bitu ni Kesakesa

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