Leg rattles worn on Vanuvatu.
A leg rattle from the Fiji Museum.
The derua (ndee-ruh-ah), or stamping tube, is being used on Vanuavatu.
The derua is stamped on the ground to create a loud percussive sound. Visit the George Kingsley Roth Online Recording Archive to listen to the stamping tube.
The lali (Lah-lee) is a canoe-shaped wooden gong. These are the larger village lali on Vanuvatu.
These are the village lali on Totoya. Visit George Kingsley Roth's Online Recording Archive to listen to lali beats.
The larger village lalis were used for communication. Because of their ability to carry sound over a large distance, specific rhythms were able to communicate news of specific events.
Smaller lalis, (lali ni meke) are often used in meke performances. Here are Lali ni Meke from the Fiji Museum. Learn more about lali.
The civi (thee-vee), is a dwarf nut whistle.
One variation of the nut whistle may have been worn as an ornament by chiefs.
Another variation of the nut whistle may have been used by children as a toy whistle.
Any other traditional use of the nut whistle seems to be unknown.
The davui (ndah-voo-ee) is a conch shell trumpet. This is a photo of a side blown davui from the Fiji Museum. Visit the George Kingsley Roth Recording Archive to listen to the davui.
The davui was traditionally used to announce important events. This is a photo of an end blown davui from the Fiji Museum. Learn more about the davui.
Bitu means "bamboo"; vakatagi and sanisani denote the type of bamboo that is used to make the instrument. These are nose flutes from the Fiji Museum. Learn more about the bitu.