The nguzu nguzu (sometimes called a musu musu or toto isu) is the traditional figurehead which was formerly affixed to canoes in the Solomon Islands. It was attached to the canoe's prow at the waterline, and was held to provide supernatural protection during expeditions. Nguzu nguzus typically depict bust-length figures with large heads, small arms, and circular ear ornaments; the hands are raised to the figure's chin, sometimes clasping either another head or a bird. Their jutting jaws were traditionally held to be an attribute of spirits. [1]
References
Culture of indigenous Oceania |
|---|
|
List of resources about traditional arts and culture of Oceania | | | Art | |
|---|
| | Broad culture | |
|---|
| | Geo-specific, general | |
|---|
| | Canoes | |
|---|
| | Dance | |
|---|
| | Festivals | |
|---|
| | Languages |
| by area |
|
|---|
| | by category |
Languages of Oceania |
|---|
|
|---|
| | Literature |
Literature of Oceania |
|---|
| | Sovereign states |
- Australia
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Niue
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
|
|---|
| |
- American Samoa
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Easter Island
- French Polynesia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- New Caledonia
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- Tokelau
- Wallis and Futuna
|
|---|
|
|---|
| | Music | |
|---|
| | Mythology | |
|---|
| | Research | |
|---|
| | People | |
|---|
| | Religion |
Religion in Oceania |
|---|
| | Sovereign states | |
|---|
| |
- American Samoa
- Christmas Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Easter Island
- French Polynesia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- New Caledonia
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- Tokelau
- Wallis and Futuna
|
|---|
|
|---|
|
Not included: Oceanian: cinema, (indigenous) currency, dress, folkore, cuisine. Also see Category:Oceanian culture. |
|