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Te birokai

human history
  • Other Name

    Rope made of coconut sennit cordage (English)

  • Description

    Te Birokai. Rope made from te kora (coconut sennit cordage). This sample of te birokai is twined in 2-ply and measures 38mm in thickness. It is light in weight, highly textured and is light brown in colour. It is used for fishing line for catching large fish. It is wound into a loose circular reel, with one end of the fibre tied into a small loop. This example of te birokai is made from cordage sourced from the processed out husk fibre of moimoto (young, green coconuts).

    The process to prepare kora begins with splitting away the benu (coconut husk fibre) into four to five long pieces, submerging them in salt water for several weeks, wringing and beating the fibres then rolling strands in small bunches to make rolled pieces called binoka. The binoka are then overlapped and rolled together to create lengths of kora. These lengths are combined together to make thicker cords and rope. The entire process is usually the work of I-Kiribati women to undertake.

  • Place
    Bamaba/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
  • Accession Number
    1936.295
  • Accession Date
    1936
  • Other Id

    22900 (ethnology)

    252 (Maude Collection)

  • Department

    Pacific

Te birokai; 1936.295; 22900, 252; Cultural Permissions… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Te birokai; 1936.295; 22900, 252; Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Te birokai; 1936.295; 22900, 252; Cultural Permissions Apply

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