This is the first of two episodes featuring the music and culture of North Malaita, Solomon Islands from the IF01 collection of Ian Frazer in his fieldwork with people of To’abaita and neigbouring Baegu, Baelelea and Lau. In this episode, we feature the cultural practice and music surrounding the ngali nuts which are harvested from a canarium almond tree. Through conversations with Ian Frazer and Mary Sattin, a Malaitan woman, we are transported back to the 1970s during the ngali nut season where communities working customs and traditions were inspired through music in the cracking of ngali nuts, the retrieval of the kernel for pounding to "kata" pudding with roasted and mashed taro. Ngali nuts was an important and significant food source as a delicacy meal for families, for celebrations in community ceremonies and trading and bartering.

Link: IF01 collection https://catalog.paradisec.org.au/collections/IF01