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Kahoa figota

human history
  • Other Name

    Necklace (English)

  • Description

    Kahoa figota. Shell necklace. Kahoa were once used as a form of currency, the longer the kahoa the richer one was. This necklace was made for males as indicated by the double rows of shell. Nowadays kahoa are used as a gift for visitors to always remember home. It is essential to own a kahoa, it reminds one where they came from.

    The black round seeds and the red disc shaped seeds are found on trees in a place called Talietumu in Uvea where the Tu'i Tonga once built his fortress. This kahoa is made up of different sections, that all alternate around the kahoa. Figota are strung in double strands with black round seeds, circular discs of coral and oval red seeds interspersed at intervals.

  • Place
  • Accession Number
    1992.304
  • Accession Date
    10 Nov 1992
  • Other Id

    54322.1 (ethnology)

  • Department
Kahoa figota, 1992.304, 54322.1, Cultural Permissions Apply

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