03/09/2022
Since many of you were message me asking what is Kiti
Let me enlighten you.
The word βkitiβ is from the Toaripi language, East Kerema, Gulf Province meaning βriver-reedβ and or is also referred to as the famous Kerema Mat.
Kiti (river-reeds) is a thick three-sided reed that grows from 1-1.5 meters tall. A tall grass-like plant of the wetlands that is commonly grown along the river banks. When kiti is ready to be harvested it is cut, collected and laid out in an open space to dry out in the sun. It takes approximately 2-3 days, depending on the heat of the sun. You will notice the change in color from a fresh green to a wheat color, locals refer to this color as βplainβ. From this stage, the reeds, by using the finger nail are split on one side, the other two sides are flattened and ready for plain weaving. As for color, the kiti (dried reeds) are boiled in different colored dyes and hung out to dry. Colors are mostly used to make different patterns and styles. These colored kiti are weaved with the plain kiti to make it stand out.
Kiti is authentically from the Gulf Province and has been used for many, many generations, and the art of weaving kiti has been passed from generation after generation and is still practiced today. Kiti is most commonly used to make mats, hand fans and hand baskets. However, I have added my twist by making, purses, clutches, bags, earring hangers, coasters, placemats, table runners and of course earrings out of Kiti π±ππ