What is A Ngatu?
A Ngatu is a tapa cloth that is an iconic symbol for hundreds of years in pacifica. A Ngatu is one of the highest signs of respect. The Ngatu is use for swaddling a baby at birth, lines the bed of a wedding couple on their first night and at death it is wrapped around a loved one. The name of the Ngatu being made is Koka’anga
To make a Ngatu, every women in tonga has to work as a crew. A Ngatu (tapa cloth) has to be made very carefully. They womans have to peel the bark off the tree by biting it off or using a knife. Then they hang the bark in the sun to dry. After that they make it ready to put it into the water for the lady to bidding. The stick that they use is called a Ike and the long stick at the bottom is call a Tutua.
They use the Tutua for laying down the Feta’aki so they can beat it with the Ike. They have two piece and they have to combined it so they can start beating again. Each woman has a certain Feta’aki to make for the next gathering. In the school hall all the woman and the girls have to cover the table with material and this will be backing the Ngatu. After they cover the table with backing material, they line up the Feta’aki along the table. Then they past the feta’aki to the backing material.
They put past over the backing material, then they carefully put the feta’aki on top of the backing material. After that they press the two pieces together then roll them up slowly. After they roll it up, they carry it outside so they can lay it down on the concrete for it to dry. There will be a woman who will darken the patterns or drawing them free handed. In the process of making the Ngatu, it could take in the matter of a few hours or a couple of days.
As the young Tongan woman learn about the Ngatu and learn the ways about how to make it. They are learning about the ways how their mother and theirs before them made the Ngatu. Ngatu is one of the most respected gifts in Tongan society but maybe, making a Ngatu is more valuable than the Ngatu it self.
W.A.L.T write using aspects of an information report structure
What I found Hard: researching about Ngatu
What I found Easy: writing about it
What I will do next time: add more information
Hi Lance,
ReplyDeleteI love this piece of writing, I like how you have explained really well what a Ngatu is and what it is used for. Something you could do better next time would be to add more pictures especially your art work, use more descriptive words and expand more on how to make a Ngatu.
Keep up the fantastic work.
Siobhan.
Hi Siobhan,
DeleteThank you for the lovely comment and i will try to use more descriptive words and add my art work of a Ngatu. Once again thank you for the great comment and the helpful feedback.
DeleteHi Lance,
You have done really well with responding to my feedback, Something you could still add is the picture of your artwork. Can't wait to see more writing being put onto your blog.
Thanks, Siobhan
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