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Qat and Marawa’s Wooden People

In short: Discover the Gaua story in which Qat and Marawa bring wooden figures to life with a drum.

Qat and Marawa’s Wooden People · The drum that makes wooden figures dance FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 171 Qat and Marawa’s Wooden People Discover the Gaua story in which Qat and Marawa bring wooden figures to life with a drum. Origin A Banks Islands tradition from northern Vanuatu. Codrington published the Lakona account from Gaua in 1891. Atlas record 1891 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF The drum that makes wooden figures dance Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 1 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

A Banks Islands tradition from northern Vanuatu. Codrington published the Lakona account from Gaua in 1891.

In the Lakona account from Gaua, Qat and Marawa carve human figures from different trees. Both use a drum to bring their figures to life, and the carvings dance. The two creations begin in much the same way. When Marawa puts his figures in the earth, they do not rise again.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1891 · Gaua, Banks Islands
    R. H. Codrington · The Melanesians · ch. 10, Lakona account · Published collection

Country pages

Fairy Tale Glossary

Origin
Black Horse. Qat and Marawa’s Wooden People. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-qat-marawa/