Tangata Manu

Tangata manu. Bird man. This is a tangata manu carved from one piece of wood. The wood is a light brown colour and has a smooth polished surface. The base of the tangata manu is slightly crooked which means it cannot stand upright. The tangata manu is anthropomorphic as it has a bird head and a human body. Tangata manu was the name given to the winner of an ancient competition that took place in Rapa Nui. The annual competition involved competitors from each clan, racing each other to retrieve the egg of a manutara (white-tipped tern). The race would involve swimming to a remote island to retrieve the egg. The winner was then given the title Tangata Manu, as well as the mana (power) surrounding it, for a year. Tangata Manu were depicted in petroglyphs and engravings as having a human body and the head of a bird, like this carved figure.