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THE SACRED
BANGABANGAS OF BANABA
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A view inside the
Caves on Banaba prior to 1931
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Extracts: "Te Rii Ni Banaba - The Backbone of
Banaba" by R. K. Sigrah & S. M. King |
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Published IPS, University of South Pacific, Fiji
2001 |
All material in this Web
Site is Copyright © K. Sigrah & S. M. King
2001 All Rights Reserved.
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With no surface water on the
island, these caves played an important role in the
survival of the Banabans. Because the caves or
bangabangas were considered sacred only females were
permitted to enter them. Many of these caves were
tragically destroyed by phosphate mining in later
years.
The prized traditional Banaban fishing
lures/hooks were made from the stalactites found in
the bangabanga's. This was one of the reasons the
Banabans reported such success, and contributed to
them gaining the title of -
"The Best
Fishermen In The Pacific!"
A view of a
cross-section of Stalactite from the Sacred Banaban
Caves
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A
close up view of the stalactite rock found in the Banaban
Caves
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