Description
Temwaiku, South Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Island, Kiribati: Maneaba or Mwaneaba (newer spelling) is the name of a traditional meeting house in the Pacific island state of Kiribati, mostly with a sacred and secular function. It is understood as the common house of the community. Sometimes there are several of these houses for the different clans. In addition to being a meeting place to make important joint decisions for the community, it is also a celebration center, e.g. for dance and singing performances. A traditional maneaba is an imposing structure, with slabs of coral supporting a huge roof formed from coconut wood, held together with coconut string and thatched with pandanus leaves.
