Nifo'oti

Nifo'oti. Hooked club. This nifo'oti is made from one piece of toa (iron wood). The handle of this nifo'oti is cylindrical in shape and is undecorated. The handle widens out to a flat four-sided blade. One side of the blade is covered in twenty-three nifo (teeth). These nifo range in size with the smallest located closest to the handle. Only four of the twenty-three nifo are in tact with the remainder at varying lengths and states of damage. The blade is decorated with white mamanu (Samoan decorative motifs) on both sides. These mamanu are comprised of triangular motifs and filled with a white powder. The lave (hook) on this nifo'oti has been broken off with only a small protrusion remaining. The nifo'oti is an 'au'upega (weapon of war) characterised by it's unilateral toothed design. This meant the nifo'oti was toothed only on one side of the blade. Another feature specific to the nifo'oti is the presence of a lave on one tip of the blade. The term nifo'oti is understood a number of ways. One thought is that the nifo (curve) of an 'oti (goat) horn was the inspiration behind the lave. Another theory is that the term came about as the nifo (teeth) were used to 'oti (to cut). The nifo'oti was traditionally used to behead slain enemies and the lave used for storage. Today the nifo'oti survives as a dance knife used by both male and females for entertainment purposes.