Magimagi is a

fibrous Fiber (spelled fibre in British English; from ) is a natural or artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often inco ...

product made from

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (biology), family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, ...

husk. The process of

weaving Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal ...

the

husk Husk (or hull) in botany is the outer shell or coating of a seed. In the United States, the term husk often refers to the leafy outer covering of an Ear (botany), ear of maize (corn) as it grows on the plant. Literally, a husk or hull includes t ...

into the traditional look is very labor-intensive. The earliest record of the unique Magimagi design is listed in the ''Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition'' by Wilkes (Wilkes, 1845). Concerning the huts named

bure Bure may refer to: Places Belgium * Bure, Wallonia, Belgium, a small village in the Tellin municipality * Battle of Bure, a World War II battle during the Battle of the Bulge Eritrea and Ethiopia * Bure (disputed zone), on the border between Eri ...

s that were on the island Wilkes says, “The walls and roof of the mbure

ure Ure or URE may refer to: People * Alan Ure, English football manager * Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde (1853–1928), Scottish politician and judge * Andrew Ure (1778–1857), Scottish doctor, scholar and chemist * Annie Ure (1893–1976), ...

are constructed of

cane Cane or caning may refer to: *Walking stick, or walking cane, a device used primarily to aid walking * Assistive cane, a walking stick used as a mobility aid for better balance * White cane, a mobility or safety device used by blind or visually i ...

s about the size of a finger, and each one is wound round with

sennit Sennit is a type of cordage made by plaiting rope fibres or strands of dried fibre or grass. In western European nautical traditions, it was used to make flat plaited straps for use aboard ship. It can be used ornamentally in crafts, like a kin ...

agimagias thick as cod-line, made from the cocoa-nut husk” (p. 119). The forefathers of the current inhabitants of the Vulaga islands used Magimagi in the construction of their houses and canoes. The unique weaved design is accomplished by Vulaga teams that are able to design many graphics into the look. Magimagi coconut trees take about five years to bear fruit. The husks from the nuts are

braid A braid (also referred to as a plait; ) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing three or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair. The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-strand ...

ed and

woven Woven fabric is any textile formed by weaving. Woven fabrics, often created on a loom, are made of many threads woven in a warp and weft. Technically, a woven fabric is any fabric made by interlacing two or more threads at right angles to one anot ...

into a strong, thin rope "as thick as a cod line". The Magimagi coconut only grows in the Lau group of island in the nation of

Fiji Islands Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

. This scarce natural resource is weaved into artistic beauty by the people of

Vulaga Fulaga (pronounced ) (proper name: Vulaga) is a crescent-shaped reef-limestone island in Fiji's Southern Lau Group. The spectacular lagoon and the fact that the island is a ''Pritchardia thurstonii ''Pritchardia thurstonii'' is a species of flo ...

who are the originators of this unique talent.

Types

There are three different types of weaving; #Talitali – this is the weaving that is done on horizontal beams. #Lalawa - this is the weaving that is done on vertical beams. #Malo/Lairo - this weaving is the design insert. Image:Magimagi - Oct25meetingpics 039.jpg Image:Magimagi - Mainbeam.jpg Image:Magimagi - Bwdiag.jpg Image:Pillar_covered_in_woven_magimagi_-_20071021.jpg Image:Magimagi - Diags.jpg Image:Magimagi - Bilo.jpg Image:Magimagi - Bwzia.jpg Image:Magimagi - Clrzia.jpg

Notable people

Joana Monolagi Joana Monolagi is a Fijian artist and masi maker, whose work is in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery. She was awarded the Pacific Heritage Art Award in 2015 at the Arts Pasifika Awards, recognising her work in supporting art and culture, ...

- self-taught masi and magimagi artist.

Types

Notable people

See also

References

Further reading