Dennis Nona

Tura Nagai is an important place on Badu where, during the headhunting days, thuraw mabaig (a lookout man) kept watch for unwelcome visitors from across the sea. When the watchman sighted warriors approaching Badu in war canoes, he sounded a bu (trumpet shell), warning the community of impending danger. Upon hearing the signal, women gathered the island’s children and hid them in the mangroves. Separately, the men formed a yatal (two-line defensive pattern) in the undergrowth at the top of the beach and waited to wage batuk (war) on the approaching invaders. In this image, Dennis has created a pyramid of maiwar (clam shells), on top of which sits a single bu (trumpet shell). The mound of clam shells represents Tura Nagai and the trumpet shell represents thuraw mabaig (a lookout man) sitting on the crown of the hill. Detailed within the clam shells are a group of invading warriors approaching the island by canoe.

Edition size: 45