Magimagi is a

fibrous Fiber or fibre (from la, fibra, links=no) 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 incorporate ...

product made from

coconut The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree 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, the seed, or 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 of maize (corn) as it grows on the plant. Literally, a husk or hull includes the protective ...

. 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 th ...

the husk 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 bures that were on the island Wilkes says, “The walls and roof of the mbure ureare constructed of canes about the size of a finger, and each one is wound round with

sennit Sennit is a type of cordage made by plaiting strands of dried fibre or grass. It can be used ornamentally in crafts, like a kind of ''macramé'', or to make straw hats. Sennit is an important material in the cultures of Oceania, where it is use ...

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

braided Braided is a musical group consisting of Casey LeBlanc, Ashley Leitão, and Amber Fleury, who all competed on the third season of '' Canadian Idol'' in 2005. They are the third music group to come from an Idol show in the world, after Young Div ...

and

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

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 ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), 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 ...

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

- self-taught masi and magimagi artist.

Types

Notable people

See also

References

Further reading