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Bagi & Mwali
The Bagi is a red shell necklace that is associated with Milne bay. It is made from the rare "Chama Pacifica" shell found at depths of up to fifteen metres.
Most Milne Bay people wear the bagi and it has a high traditional value. Bagis are made by hand on Rossell Island where small pieces are chipped from the red tips of the shell and ground flat on a flat rock. The hole is drilled in the centre using a traditional Archimedes drill. The discs are finally threaded onto traditional string made from pandanus and polished with coconut oil. It is an arduous task taking many days. The shells are judged by the evenness and smoothness of the finish and the depth of colour.
In the Kula tradition, the bagi and the mwali (a white arm shell) were used for exchange with the best trading partners. They went in opposite directions through the islands: the bagi moved clockwise and the mwali went anti-clockwise. The number of generations the mwali and bagi passed through indicated the authenticity and value of the items. All of these Kula trade shells have names and long histories that are known to those in the ring.
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About Milne Bay
Arts & Crafts
