Culture

Culture

The Gilbertese had a strong warrior culture, with their body armour among the strongest and most sophisticated in the Pacific. The culture is still robust, with traditional singing and dancing widely performed on the islands and at international cultural festivals.

Traditional Gilbertese dancing performed in December 1982 in the Mendana Hotel in Honiara in the Solomon Islands, where there is a sizeable Gilbertese minority.

Traditional Gilbertese dancing performed by young girls in the Mendana Hotel in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Gilbertese dancing by girls in the Mendana Hotel of Honiara.

A traditional Gilbertese dance in the Mendana Hotel of Honiara.

Young girls perform traditional Gilbertese dancing from Kiribati in the Mendana Hotel in Honiara.

Dancers from Banaba (Kiribati) living in Fiji, dance at the Rock Pool stage, in the Festival of Pacific Arts, Townsville, Queensland, Australia in August 1988.

A dance by boys and girls from Banaba in Kiribati, living in Rabi, Fiji, in Queens Park, at the Festival of Pacific Arts in Townsville.

Dancers from Banaba (Kiribati) living in Fiji, at the Festival of Pacific Arts, Townsville.

Traditional dancing by the group Takaria Mautaake in Betio, South Tarawa in November 1988.

The dance group Takaria Mautaake performing in Betio.

Traditional dance by men of the Gilbertese group Takaria Mautaake in Betio, South Tarawa.

Girls performing traditional Gilbertese dancing in the maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang, Butaritari atoll.

Gilbertese dancing in the maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang on Butaritari atoll.

A traditional Gilbertese “sit-down” dance in the maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang.

A girl performing traditional dancing in the maneaba “Te Aake” in Ukiangang, Butaritari

Men performing a traditional Gilbertese “sit-down” dance in the maneaba “Te Aake” on Butaritari

Taditional Gilbertese “sit-down” dancing in Ukiangang, Butaritari atoll.

Singing and dancing with costume designs representing Halley's Comet, in the Maneaba “Te Nanoraoi” in Kuma village, in the north of Butaritari atoll.

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