Daren Kamali is a musician, poet and writer.
Daren Kamali (multi-media artist) is performing Mad Doggerel Cabaret Throughout the month of March, Richard Wallis (with friends David Eggleton) and Richard Wallis (with the support from Arts on Tour NZ). On August 26 the cabaret will give a free performance at Wellington’s National Library for National Poetry Day.
As the Auckland Libraries heritage Pacific advisor, I often come across historical books depending on what subject I’m researching. Readings are primarily around the WĀ – Waitui Atea: Saltwater Realm hence, This is Not a Grass Skirt is the most recent book I’ve read, based on fibre skirts (liku) and female tattooing (vei qia) in nineteenth century Fiji; published in 2019 by Karen Jacobs, .
This book covers liku made from various island fibres including human hair – an old cultural practice carried out only by women in old Fiji which means only iTaukei women were the dau bati (tattooist) located in a bure shelter by the entrance to the village.
When a young girl reaches adulthood, she is awarded marks in front and behind her mouth (gusuqia). She then receives her first liku. This looks like a belt that reveals her vei Qia. The dau bati forbade men from entering the tattoo shelter.
This is Not a Grass Skirt has a collection of likus. This book shows different kinds of tattoo tools taken from Kia Island. These traditions were originally carried out by women, and then banished when Christianity arrived.
Also, this book contains the story of how the iTaukei Siamese Twins swam from Kia Island to Samoa in their vei qia tool kit. It also reveals how missionaries from Fiji were treated by foreigners and other Fijians during the period of exchange between Ovalau, Levuka and museum collectors, which took place in the middle of the 1870s.
This ancient practice informs my research and art project using ulu cavu Fiji wigs, which are made of human hair, magimagi, (coconut seednet), and vau (hibiscus root). It is known as The Ulumate Project: the Sacredness and Human Hair Series, which was last used over 200 years ago. You can read the full book for more information Ole Maiava & I.
