Ngatu, Cultural Wealth of the Kingdom of Tonga

Ngatu making begins with harvesting the Hiapo or Mulberry Tree. The Hiapo is grown in the plantations for a period of 2-3 years before they are ready to be harvested.

Amusi - The first stage in ngatu making is the harvesting of hiapo tree.

Hae - Harvested stems of the hiapo are left for a couple of days to dry out, before they are stripped.As depicted, the bark is stripped from the long stem of the tree.

Fohi - Once the bark is stripped from the stem, the outer bark is scraped off to receive the white inner bark. This process is known as fohi tutu. A sharp knife or shell is used for the fohi tutu.

Fakapa tutu - the first stage of beating the tutu (stripped bark), tutu is laid over a wooden anvil, tutua and beaten with the wooden mallet, ike. The beating of the 'ike' creates a rhythm that Tongan ears are familiar with.

Repeated beating of the tutu makes it thinner and wider, women then use the palm of their hands to smooth out the tutu knowing by touch the right texture needed. The end product is called feta'aki.

Koka'anga involves the process of gluing pieces of feta'aki. The feta'aki is prepared to certain measurement by each woman in the koka'anga group and it is called a langanga, their individual langanga adds up to make one whole ngatu.

This is the process of colouring the newly made ngatu with the brown-reddish dye made from the koka tree. This process marks the layout before women draw the decorated motifs and designs.

This picture shows a traditional semi circled shape koka'anga table. Its shape enables women to stretch the feta'aki easily, pulling and smoothing them out to minimize wrinkles in the feta'aki.

Kupesi mats are stuck on top of the koka'anga table and it enables women to print the designs during the brown colouring of the feta'aki.

Layers of feta'aki are placed over the table and kupesi mats and coloured with the brown-reddish dye made from selected plant pigments or red clay soil.

This koka'anga picked the national Code of Arms of Tonga as its central kupesi. The kupesi stencil is taped to the koka'anga table, the layers of feta'aki placed over it, then rubbed with dye to show the kupesi as depicted.

Tataki - this is an important process in ngatu making. Once the newly made ngatu is completed, it is rolled out in the sun to dry. Careful hands are essential not to damage the ngatu until it is dry.

Kerosene is often added to the glue mixture and is rubbed on the newly made ngatu to add luster and as insect and bug repellent.

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.

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.

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

These are koloa (wealth), laid according to their ritual use and function, they are presented as fulfillment of fatongia (duties). Ngatu has a prominent place in all koloa presentations.

The tau'olunga is a traditional dance preformed by women. Ngatu is one of the cultural materials used in designing the tau'olunga costume.

Me'etu'upaki - Ngatu is the only traditional attire for the me'etu'upaki dance. Preformed by men only, ngatu is tied to their waist throughout the whole performance.

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

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.

Illustrated are some of the more modern use of ngatu. Handicraft makers use 'feta'aki'/ngatu cloth to wrap their products and it is also decorated with traditional motifs and designs. People in the handicraft industry depend on this art to make a living

A Jewelry box wrapped with feta'aki or ngatu cloth and it is decorated with traditional motifs.

Photo frame with a traditional Tongan touch.

A Koka'anga is held once a week. Before the koka'anga day, every woman is expected to provide an agreed length of feta'aki (ngafa). Therefore, every member takes time to prepare their ngafa. In a koka'anga, one learns respect, communal cooperation and trust.

Why do women still practice this art? Tongan women understand their role in society, their cultural responsibility to family, church and homeland which empahsises the cultural use and worth of ngatu.