Historical Context

Origin of People

"Marshallese people originated from a group of Austronesian speakers who left South East Asia to gradually settle across the Pacific. After people started arriving and settling in Melanesia and parts of Polynesia, it is believed that their groups of skilled navigators from islands like Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa sailed northward then west, traveling through the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) and reaching Marshall Islands. There, they established residences that were passed down as each succeeding generation moved onward. Other early settlers of the Marshall Islands are believed to be from the West, from islands such as the Caroline Islands" (Walsh 2012).

Figure 1. Drawing of precolonial Marshallese people from: Etto nan Raan Kein: A Marshall Islands History, Bess Press, 2012.

Traditional Pacific Music

Most islands use chanting, percussion, and stamping in their songs. Few of the nations in Micronesia have indigenous musical instruments of their own. One of the few instruments present in this region is an hourglass single-headed drum that is played in Papua New Guinea and is found as far north as the Marshall Islands. As for more specific instruments that are considered miscellaneous, native people from Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia used local resources as instruments such as half coconut shells and seashells, as well as parts of their own body like handclaps or body slaps to make music (Telford 2004).

Role of Women in Marshallese Music

A traditional role for women in Marshallese culture was the Limaro Bikbikir Kolo eo, or the encourager. The Limaro Bikbikir Kolo eo refers to the role of a woman who was responsible for motivating and inspiring those around her, particularly during times of collective effort such as warfare or important communal tasks. In traditional times, women would accompany men in battle boats, beating drums (called aje in Marshallese) and chanting incantations to prepare men for their difficult tasks (Walsh 2012).

Figure 2. Lijjakwe the Beautiful (legend) playing the aje drum from: Bwebwenatoon Etto: A Collection of Marshallese Legends and Traditions, Republic of the Marshall Islands: Historical Preservation Office, 1992.