Culture of Kiribati

Kiribati folk music is generally based around chanting or other forms of vocalizing, accompanied by body percussion.

This box is constructed so as to give a hollow and reverberating tone when struck simultaneously by a chorus of men sitting around it.

The uniqueness of Kiribati when compared with other forms of Pacific Island dance is its emphasis on the outstretched arms of the dancer and the sudden birdlike movement of the head.

[4] There are special items created by women such as a 'te inaai', a woven mat, garlands for the parents 'te itera' and a bracelet for the baby.

[11] The Ethnological Museum of Berlin also holds photos and an extensive collection of audio tapes (including music-ethnological material) made by Koch.

[8] Drinking alcohol is part of the culture and consumption of toddy, a locally made fermented coconut juice, is widespread.

The helmets were resilient and, due to the structure of blowfish, covered with many points, which had the ability of damaging weapons.

Due to the difficulty of moving in this armor, falling over and becoming unable to get back up was common enough that duel assistants were required.

A list of some of these traditional martial arts is as follows: Nabakai, Nakara, Ruabou, Tabiang, Taborara, Tebania, Temata-aua, Te Rawarawanimon, and Terotauea.

It was originated from an ancestral spirit called "Terengerenge" commonly known in other versions of oral traditions as "Teraka".

According to oral traditions, this ancestral spirit traveled to Asia and was a source of origin for what is now known as "karate", a reverse written form of the name "Teraka".

They came to confirm the ownership of Mwea, whom his siblings started the kingdom of Abemama, and claimed more prior leaving the island.

Oral traditions stated that "Nakara" and "Ruabou" were adopted from the styles of "Lupe" in Niutao who derived his martial arts from his ancestral spirit, through Tikitiki who gain came from Beru.