In the realm of banana leaf currency

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Trobriand Island: Where banana leaf currency originates

On the Trobriand Islands of Papua New Guinea, banana leaf currency surpasses the modern currency of this nation and is utilized in numerous ceremonies, notably as a symbolic offering during weddings.

Trobriand Island: Where banana leaf currency originates

The Trobriand Islands form an archipelago within Milne Bay Province, eastern Papua New Guinea. The principal island, Kiriwina, stretches 43km in length and 16km in width, home to approximately 60 villages inhabited by 12,000 residents.

Modern currency has only recently been introduced in negligible quantities. This is due to the insular lifestyle of the inhabitants, who primarily engage in direct barter trade or utilize traditional currency made from dried banana leaves and seashells.

Doba is the name of the traditional currency among the islanders. Initially, fresh banana leaves are rubbed onto a carved wooden board typically made from Kwila wood, which husbands personally carve and present to their wives on their wedding day. After boiling in hot water, these leaves are dried thoroughly before being assembled into bundles.

They typically bundle 50 leaves into one bundle, equivalent to 5 kina (the modern currency unit of Papua New Guinea). 5 kina equals 1 euro (approximately 26,000 VND).

Residents on the Trobriand Island can carry this bundle of dried banana leaves (traditional Doba) to exchange for vegetables, potatoes, fish, meat, and more.

Banana leaf currency is utilized in various ceremonies, particularly esteemed during weddings.

According to the longstanding division of labor, making Doba has been the responsibility of women in the household. Men undertake more physically demanding tasks such as planting yams (the staple food here), farming, hunting, fishing, and so forth.