Art Council of Mongolia, Culture Naadam Project

Save The Ifugao Terraces Movement

Save The Ifugao Terraces Movement

A kind of traditional team game played in the fields.

In a traditional Tongan wedding, ngatu and other Tongan wealth (fine mats) are presented as gifts. However the married couple are also dressed up with mats and ngatu as a sign of respect and wealth.

A bouquet of flowers made from different traditional materials, like kaka and the feta'aki, illustrating durability and versatility of feta'aki, enabling the production of magnificent works of art.

Malo e lelei!!! The beautiful Kingdom of Tonga proudly presents the ngatu. Ngatu is a traditional cloth made from the bark of the mulberry tree. It has been the treasure of our ancestors and today it is still one of our prestige, traditional and cultural wealth. Ngatu is used in gift-giving and other traditional rituals. It is a sign of respect but significantly, is a cultural wealth of our people.\n\nKupesi 4: Amoamokofe\n\nNagtu lau tefuhi (100 langangas) are rolled out as walkway for royalty on special occasions. This ngatu features the 'amoamokofe' motif, repeatedly printed throughout the length of the piece.

Cultural rituals and traditional uses of the Ngatu\nIn the Kingdom of Tonga, cultural and social rituals are still practiced and has become a part of our daily lives. Ngatu has many roles and worth, depending on the context of that particular ritual. A deceased is wrapped with a ngatu for burial, they are presented as gifts during birthdays and weddings. The presence of ngatu is highly valued as cultural gifts and it is presented in a reciprocal manner, therefore ngatu is amongst a Tongan woman's prized possession, symbolizing cultural wealth and prestige.

Young girls dressed in dresses made of ngatu, in preparation for cultural performances.

In a birthday ceremony, ngatu along with other traditional wealth are presented as gifts. The presentation of these traditional gifts symbolizes respect and usually gifts are presented from both sides of the family

Kupesi designs and motifs used.\nKupesi is the design printed and drawn on the ngatu. Each kupesi has a meaning, a history and place of origin which tells the place of origin of the ngatu and its makers. Often the kupesi drawn into a piece of ngatu marks historical events and co-relates to Tongan cosmology, seasons and the environment.

Featured is a ngatu 'uli (black ngatu). A prestigious item of wealth made and reserved for chiefs and royalty, used especially in funerals. This royal catafalque, shows ngatu'uli on top of fine mats as flooring.