Bag of hair

The hair stored in this bag belongs to Kenneth Tuai. In 2011, at the funeral of his father Tēvita Tofavaha Tuai, Kenneth cut his hair as part of the mourning rituals performed in the Tongan community. The hair is part of a small group of funerary garments, mats and other items associated with his father's funeral and now part of Te Papa's collection.

Hair cutting ceremony

A hair cutting ceremony takes place at the conclusion of Tongan funerals. It is led by the fahu (the highest-ranking female member of the family, usually the father's eldest sister) and involves women and men (typically the children of the deceased) and those lower in rank to the deceased (liongi). The ritual cutting of their hair is an expression of their grief.

Acquisition History

Kenneth donated this hair as part of his role as Cultural Advisor - Fashion Curator for his co-collecting project titled "Tufunga Teuteu, Faiva Teuteu: The Tongan Material Arts of Fashion Making and of Performance Arts of Fashion Wearing".

This project was part of a wider Te Papa co-collecting programme named "Pikipikihama kae vaevae manava (Joining our vaka to share our life stories)" devised in partnership with members of the Tongan Community in Auckland 2017.

Kenneth is of Tongan descent with links to Houma, 'Eua and Navutoka in Tongatapu, ‘Ata and Falevai in Vava'u, Tonga. Kenneth grew up in Otahuhu, Auckland where lives with his wife and two daughters.