Ulumate Project: Sacredness of Human Hair Series

The Ulumate Project has been a 25-year year journey to make a contemporary ulu cavu wig and revive the ancient practice of Fijian wig making. It began with the collection of Daren Kamali’s hair in 2007. “It was at Auckland War Memorial Museum in 2013 that Ole Maiava (photographic documenter/ Artist) brought the ulu cavu wig to my attention” - dk. In 2021 heritage weaver Joana Monolagi completed the creation of an ulu cavu using magimagi (coconut coir) and Vau (Hibiscus stem). Join Na Tolu – The Three in talanoa as they share the work and knowledge on the Ulumate practice.

About the speakers
Daren Kamali and Ole Maiava are multi-media artists with roots in the moana Oceania diaspora, living in Aotearoa. Maiava was born in Aotearoa, New Zealand, whilst Kamali migrated from Fiji. As the (Un)Registered Savages of Aotearoa they have collaborated on many creative projects since 2015. Joana Monolagi is an iTaukei knowledge holder and heritage weaver/masi artist who hails from Ba in the Serua Province of Viti Levu, Fiji. After attending Daren’s second hair cutting ceremony at the Central City Library in 2018, she offered to make the contemporary ulu cavu wig that is the culmination of the Ulumate Project.

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