Dance Club (Kiakavo)
ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs
Dateearly to mid 20th Century
Made AtFiji
MediumWood
Dimensions33 3/4 × 7 1/8 × 1 7/8 in. (85.7 × 18.1 × 4.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih
Object number2018.13.15
DescriptionThis is a kaikavo, a wooden Fijian dance club. Clubs functioned as weapon and accessory in Fiji. This club was not used for warfare, but rather was used ceremonially as a dance club during a meke, or a celebratory song and dance. The shape of this club resembles the stock of a gun, and as such kiakavo are frequently referred to as “gun-stock clubs.” It is important to note that this name is attributed to the clubs purely on the basis of shape and not because the club is indeed modeled after a gun. Scholars adamantly confirm that the form of the kiakavo is a traditional one and that such clubs were in use prior to Western contact. The kiakavo is a popular form and can be found throughout Fiji. Although this popularity represents a departure from the fine craftsmanship present in other Fijian clubs, many kiakavo are still quite masterfully produced. As they are used during dances, they are made to be lighter than the typical war club. They can be made of soft and hardwoods, but those made of softwoods are sometimes colored so that they appear to be made of a harder variety of wood.On View
Not on viewCollections
early to mid 20th Century
19th Century
mid 19th to early 20th Century
mid 19th Century
1871-1879
early to mid 19th Century
18th - 19th Century
18th to 19th Century
mid 19th Century
early to mid 20th Century
19th Century
19th Century