WELCOME · RESPECT

Yaqona and ceremony

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What we know

  • Yaqona (kava) is a drink made from the root of the Piper methysticum plant.
  • A visitor presents yaqona to the village as a sevusevu, asking to be welcomed.
  • The drink is mixed in a large wooden bowl called a tanoa and served in a coconut-shell cup (bilo).

The story

Yaqona is prepared from the kava plant and shared according to the occasion and community’s protocols. Its presentation and drinking can recognise visitors, rank, obligations and agreement. These actions make relationships visible.

In pre-Christian ritual, priests also used yaqona in dealings with the spiritual world. Ceremonies have changed over time while remaining central to many gatherings. They connect the history of belief with the everyday work of maintaining community.

Words in this chapter

yaqona (kava), sevusevu, tanoa and bilo — this chapter is where the museum explains these words. See the whole glossary →

Pictures in this chapter

Sources

More in Land and kinship

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