Te katibana

human history

Te katibana. Waist band. The katibana was one of several components making up a full otanga (suit of Kiribati armour). It would be worn across the stomach outside of protective overalls along with another katibana of sting ray skin in some instances. The katibana is woven from te kora (coconut sennit) in a tightly bound technique termed taetaeri, similar to the methof of construction of a tanga (coconut sennit cuirass). This katibana is thick and highly textured due to the kora. It is rectangular in shape and finished along the wide edges with a wooden rods of te ngea. Slight warping and discolouration of the fibres but medium brown overall.

Accession number: 1940.3 Last Update: 17 Dec 2025
Other Name

Waistband, armour (English)

Accession Number

1940.3

Accession Date

1940

Other Id

25228.3 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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Te katibana, 1940.3, 25228.3, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 07 Dec 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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