Nei Mwanganibuka The Legendary Fisherwoman - Tereeao Teingiia Ratite

I’ve always wanted to be like Nei Mwanganibuka

With all her skills

I could survive, conquer the realities of life

Put back the little fishes where they belong

I’ve always wanted to be like Nei Mwanganibuka

With all her knowledge

I could promote better lives

Put the sickly fishes back where they can be cured

I’ve always wanted to be like Nei Mwanganibuka

With all her wisdom,

I would help sustain the benefits of tomorrow

Cheer the elderly fishes to continue to be valuable maintaining kinship

I am like Nei Mwanganibuka now

With her skills, knowledge and wisdom

Of fishing

Supporting my dearest kin

Fulfilling each role and responsibility—

Signs of a good fisherwoman

---

Tereeao Teingiia Ratite (20th century) Kiribati

Source: Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia, Edited by: Evelyn Flores, Emelihter Kihleng and Craig Santos Perez, The New Oceania Literary Series, University of Hawaii Press, 2019

Nei Mwanganibuka was a legendary fisherwoman whose expertise in fishing was at first unknown to her brothers. Her brothers had pride in their fishing skills and were famous throughout the Kiribati group. When the brothers learned about her fishing expertise, they took her out to the great ocean and left her there. Nei  Mwanganibuka  drifted  on  a  piece  of  log  and  arrived  on  the  island  of  Nikunau,  where  she  found  a  companion.  She  had  three  sons  whom  she  taught  how to fish. The sons became experts in fishing and competed with their uncles, Nei Mwanganibuka’s brothers, who conquered the Kiribati islands by fishing out all the great fishes. Through Nei Mwanganibuka’s fishing expertise, her sons de-feated their uncles. This brought them fame throughout the seas of Kiribati.