Whale Teeth (Tabua)
In Fiji, polished whale teeth known as “tabua” were used in major social transactions like marriage proposals or peace offerings. These objects were so culturally valuable that each tooth held a story—where it came from, who gave it, and why.
Tabua still hold symbolic importance today but were once a powerful economic tool, used to cement political alliances or secure land. A single tooth could carry more weight than a bag of gold.
