Gata (weapon) explained

The Gata or Gata waka is a war club from Fiji.

Uses in Fiji

Usually cut from hardwood, it has a snake^[1] or rifle shaped head. The word gata means snake in Fijian language. This weapon can be used for war but also for traditional dances and ceremonies.^[2] Its shape is very similar to the kiakavo used for dancing.^[3]

Bibliography

• John Charles Edler, Terence Barrow, Art of Polynesia, Hemmeter Publishing Corporation, 1990.
• Rod Ewins, Fijian Artefacts: The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Collection, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, 1982.
• Bulletin of the Fiji Museum, Numeros 1–2, Fiji Museum, 1973.

See also

• Totokia
  • Ula Sali
• Culacula
• Bulibuli

Notes and References

1. Francesco Pellizzi, Anthropology and Aesthetics, 57/58: Spring/Autumn 2010 https://books.google.com/books?id=rSCCq2DLMOAC&dq=massue+gata+fidji&pg=PA114
2. http://portail-documentaire.unc.nc/files/public/bu/theses_unc/TheseHeleneGoiran2011.pdf Hélène Goiran, Les rôles politiques des militaires fidjiens
3. Susan Cochrane, Max Quanchi, Hunting the Collectors: Pacific Collections in Australian Museums, p.46