INTRODUCTION
The Banaba, Republic of Kiribati, Message Forum
Ocean Island, known by its Kiribati name of Banaba, is one of the many interesting islands in the Gilbert Group, Republic of Kiribati (Micronesia), as shown on the map below as well as being depicted as one of the seventeen rays of the sun on our Kiribati flag below. Administered by the Republic of Kiribati from the capital, Tarawa (Bairiki), Banaba has always been and still remains part of Kiribati - the reverse or any other variation has never been the case.
The Republic of Kiribati is made up of three groups comprising thirty-three islands. These are: the Gilbert Group which consists of seventeen islands including Banaba; the Phoenix Group (eight islands); and the Line Islands (eight islands). In the company of the other islands of the Republic of Kiribati, Banaba has its own history, as well as its own unique, beautiful and complex culture that have evolved over many generations. Where Banaba stands apart results from its geographical location and the discovery of phosphate.
Map of the Gilbert Group, Republic of Kiribati
The phosphate of Ocean Island (Banaba) has had a great deal of impact on the life, the economy and the history of Kiribati. The people of Banaba purchased another island to replace Ocean Island. This is the island of Rabi (administered from the Republic of Kiribati capital, Tarawa) in distant Fiji - and so many of them have a life spent far from their own country – all because of the wealth to be garnered for someone else’s benefit. However, this relocation was one of many that occurred in Kiribati. The others all resulted from overcrowding on mainly the islands of the southern Gilberts (Kiribati Maiaki). It is a testament to the depth of our culture that these relocations also took with them those things such as our culture, customs and rituals.
Buakonikai village prior to the mining of phosphate
Ocean Island is 'nothing but a vast pinnacle up-thrust out of the depths’, built upon by reef-building coral polyps. These polyps can only live at shallow depths of water that allow a certain amount of sunlight to penetrate. Then sand drifted there or the coral itself was ground into a sand-like substance by the sea. As this sand built up above sea level, a great number of sea birds sought refuge there, so that, after a long, long time, their droppings covered the coral with forty-foot deep solid guano. Then all this disappeared below the sea and these forty feet of guano were changed into phosphate. Another sea disturbance thrust this phosphate to three hundred feet above the water and new polyps built a reef around this projection. Birds carried seeds from which trees and plants grew and rotted and formed soil. Sand was washed from distant shores and formed beaches.
Banaba, 1929
It was Albert Ellis (later Sir Albert), a supercargo on a ship, who saved the Pacific Island Trading Company that depended on cargoes of guano for its existence.
Albert Ellis at work in his office on Banaba (Ocean Island)
This Company was on the verge of bankruptcy when Ellis, against the advice of many scoffers, including the Company Directors, took a queer-looking piece of rock to experts in London for analysis. This rock has been used for many years as a door-stop which had been given to him by a friend who had picked it up in Nauru. That piece of rock was made of ‘the purest phosphate of lime yet discovered by man in a natural state’.
The Pacific Islands Trading Company became the millionaire British Phosphate Commissioners, a Company owned jointly by the Governments of Britain, Australia and New Zealand. B.P.C. really controlled Ocean Island until the phosphate was exhausted in 1979. Relays of workers had been taken every two years to Ocean Island. This source of revenue had dried up and also the royalties that had been paid annually to the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) Government.
Banaban landscape subsequent to phosphate mining, 1931
Coral outcrop, Banaba
I have dedicated the following poem to Banaba and the people of Banaba:
Banaba – Our Rock of
Kiribati
You still stand proud like a rock
Although they took all you have got
The miners and Japanese
A few of us remain but it is just not the same
And I suppose just not meant to be.
And away with the clouds flying high in the sky
Blows the haunting wind of Nei Tiein
Wisely ever blowing and always ever knowing
You carry our earthly spirits far away again.
And frigate bird you can fly through the great bye and bye
Man's problems mean nothing to thee
As if Nareau the Wise had given you the eyes
To see right through all the hypocrisy.
For the spirits that guide us, the darkness that hides us,
Besides us always will be
For wherever we go, as both you and I know
We become what we are meant to be.
So good bye you old rock, say farewell to your flock
Now living on an island so far away
For whatever has come cannot be undone
And I will remember you always for the rest of my days
Banaba – Our Rock of Kiribati.
Poem by Jane Resture
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There are many stories of hardship and bravery in the modern history of Banaba. One of these is the murder of so many I-Kiribati and Tuvaluan people by the Japanese at the end (yes, at the end) of World War 2. History does not record the names of most of these people and it is to these unnamed people that I have dedicated this Web Page. However, history does record the name of Kabunare from the island of Nikunau in Kiribati, who escaped the Japanese and the man next to him whose name was Falailiva, from Tuvalu, who did not. (See Kabunare's story). Perhaps I should mention here that Falailiva (Fly River) Resture was my uncle being the elder brother of my father, Robert Resture. ... Jane Resture
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Welcome everybody to Micronesia Music Anthology which is available on The anthology can be accessed by clicking on the 'Broadcast Schedule' after logging in to Micronesia Music Radio. This should allow you to determine when the anthology is available in your part of the world. For example, in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Australia, the anthology is available at 12 noon each Saturday. In Kiribati, the anthology is available each Saturday afternoon at 2 pm; California at 7 pm each Friday evening; New York at 10 pm each Friday evening, along with Florida and Boston, Massachusetts, USA, etc. The anthology runs for 90 minutes in which the traditional chants are introduced with many from Kiribati, including Banaba and Rabi, followed by the beautiful songs of Micronesia. Thank you! The schedule can also be accessed here
GOSPEL MUSIC Pacific Islands Radio is very pleased to be able to advise that a collection of some of the most exciting and absorbing Gospel Music from the Pacific Islands is now being featured on Pacific Music Radio (FM mp3PRO Stereo), Pacific Islands Radio 33K (24 kbps) as well as Pacific Islands Radio 28K (16 kbps). With an extended running time of three hours, the Gospel Music collection has proved to be extremely popular and features music of a number of very talented artists such as Bata Teinamati, Betania Gospel Singers and Emmaus Family Singers (Republic of Kiribati). Please monitor the Broadcast Schedule of the above three Pacific Islands Radio stations for the availability and time of the Gospel Music collection. At present, this exciting collection is available every Sunday from 12 noon to 3 pm Australian eastern standard time. For further information, please visit the following:
Thank you and Best
Wishes
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