Mauri. I would like to congratulate you both for an excellent work in co-writing 'Te Rii Ni Banaba'. I have just perused through the acknowledgements and introduction section of the book and already I feel deeply touched and moved by our history and that of our ancestors.

It's hard not to get emotional knowing that our ancestors were tricked and cheated out of their land by the British Phosphate Company, and brutally enslaved by the Japanese during world war II!

The biggest advantage though for us -the younger generation- is now we have our history and heritage narrated and documented by one of our own Banaban blood.. This is a big achievement on it's own and we're all indebted to you.

I can hardly wait to read through the whole book and find out more on te Aka, Auriaria and Nei Anginimaeao clans.

Kam a bati n raba.

"BATTLING OVERWHELMING ODDS"  

by Katabwena Tawaka

Published in WANSOLWARA (One Ocean - One People) Vol. 7 No. 3 (page 14)

September 2002 issue

Journalism Training Newspaper, Suva Fiji Islands http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/

TE RII NI BANABA is a gripping account of the struggles of the people of Ocean Island against cultural invasion, and later the destruction of their homeland during the phosphate rush.  The authors, Raobeia Ken Sigrah, a Banaban, and Stacey M King, who had family involved in phosphate mining on Banaba, have done their research well.

Outsiders may not be able to tell the difference but despite the cultural and physical similarities with the I-Kiribati, the Banabans have always considered themselves a separate race and nation.  This is even though the language is more or less the same.  The authors write from an indigenous Banaban viewpoint, an bring into stark focus the dying traditional heritage and culture of the Banabans.

The book, categorised into four segments, outlines the chronological history of the Banabans, beginning with the 'Te Aka clan' who are classified as the original people of Banaba. Their customs, culture, legends, dance and genealogy are well covered.

The other segment details the invasion of Banaba mainly from Kiribati and later by Europeans (I-Matang).  Their impact on the Banabans, their culture and language, evident to this day, are discussed in the form of legends and myths.  The onslaught of Christianity which led to the conversion of many Banabans was another major upheaval.

The discovery and extraction of phosphate put ongoing pressure on the Banabans.  The final outcome was horrific - the destruction of what the Banabans held so dear - their homeland.  Before Banaba, an isolated patch of land in the Central Pacific, was ruined by phosphate mining, it was the home of 5000 Banabans.

They are today scattered between Banaba and Rabi Island in Fiji, which was purchased from the Fiji government.  The phosphate dollars, all but finished now, have done little to mollify a displaced people.  Throughout their travails, Banabans have tried to cling to their own unique customs and traditions - a daunting challenge.  The Banaban community will be grateful to the authors.

I thought I would belatedly send a note to say I have read the book 'TE RII NI BANABA'.

While it would probably not be the sort of book I would normally read, I found it quite interesting and informative and excellently presented.

I have just finished a thorough reading of "Te Rii ni Banaba". What a storehouse of knowledge! I found it completely enthralling and felt very privileged to be able to share such valued memories and history.

What do we really know about Teimanaia’s skull and Dr Gould? In spite of Tuteariki's dream, I would be very happy to take on the task of seeing if the skull might be somewhere in the UK. Has anyone else looked here?

My partner Barbara is an archaeologist and has a lot of knowledge of UK Museums and antiquarian collections.

Was Gould from the UK? Did he return here? How can I find out more about him? Congratulations again on the book.

I figure I owe the authors much gratitude for their extensive knowledge shared to everyone in such a moving book that illustrated the plight of this people.

I have very strong feelings on the subject of my people and would like to help out with the move to bring justice around where it should have been all those years back.

By the way, my mum was just telling me that my great-grandfather's name was one of the ones listed in the book as being shot by the Japanese. I'll be revisiting this website every now and again for any extra information on the island of Banaba itself.

I thought I'd send you a few lines to say how fascinated I was to read the book - Te Rii Ni Banaba, a copy of which I'd obtained from Colin Hinchcliffe here in UK. Congratulations to you both. I'm sure that the Banaban people will be eternally grateful to you for your efforts. You certainly had a wealth of material.

Having things explained from the islanders' point of view provides a totally different picture about so many aspects. It has made me even sorrier that I never managed to get there during my two years on Tarawa from '68-'70. I visited all the other islands in the G&EIC apart from Nonouti, Washington, Fanning and the uninhabited ones. The opportunity to go to Banaba never came up. I'm sorry, too, that I wasn't able to make it in '97. One thing I did find rather strange was that it was possible for the original te Aka clan to be able to continue to live on the same pretty small island as Auriaria and his followers - one might have expected that one side would have wiped out the other. There must have been some pretty sensible leaders on both sides!

Anyway, I hope that all is well with you both - I just wish the Pacific wasn't so far away from here!