Dance in Kiribati

The buki originated in the northern islands of the Gilbert group (Butaritari and Makin).

The dance is only performed by women and requires the dancer to wear a very thick and heavy coconut frond skirt made of boiled and softened newly sprouted pinneals of the coconut leaf (te kakoko).

The skirt can weigh up to ten kilograms (22 pounds) and generally shin length.

As in the other forms of Pacific dance such as the Tahitian hura the buki emphasizes the movement of the hips.

Generally the dancer is required to show effortlessness as if the torso and hips are disconnected.

Each dancer has a foot long stick which are struck in time with the accompanying song to create a rhythm.

The emphasis of te rebwe involves clapping and step footing with or without musical instrument.