Riji facts for kids
Riji are special pearl shells worn by Aboriginal men in the north-west part of Australia. This area is near the town of Broome today. The word riji comes from the Bardi language, and another name for it is jakuli.
These beautiful shells are worn as a special covering on the body. They are attached with hairstring to a belt around the waist. In the past, only men who had completed important cultural steps could wear them. Today, special ceremonies celebrate when boys receive a riji. This marks their journey into adulthood, a very happy time for their families.
What Are Riji?
Riji are made from the shiny inner part of a pearl shell, also known as nacre. Before it is decorated, the pearl shell is called guwan.
How Riji Are Made
Artists carve lines onto the guwan. These lines are called ramu. They often show sacred patterns or tell traditional stories. Once these designs are carved, the shell becomes a riji. Sometimes, Ochre is rubbed into the carvings to add color.
The Meaning of Riji
Riji are connected to water, healing, and life. The Bardi people believe the light reflecting off the shells looks like lightning flashes. Lightning is common during the monsoon season. They also link the shells' shine to the cheeks of the Rainbow Serpent, a powerful being tied to water and rain.
One special pattern found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia is made of interlocking designs. Artists rub a mix of ochre and Spinifex resin into these carved lines to make them stand out. Both decorated and plain pearl shells are used for special purposes, like making rain or for trade.
Riji as Trade Items
Riji were very valuable objects. They were traded with Aboriginal people living inland, far from the coast. These trades happened along old trade routes that covered huge parts of Australia. Riji have been found in places like Yuendumu in the desert, south-eastern Arnhem Land, Queensland, and South Australia.
Sometimes, plain pearl shells were decorated further along these trade routes. This happened far from where they first came from.
Riji Today
Aboriginal artists like Aubrey Tigan and Butcher Joe Nangan have created riji using different materials, such as mother-of-pearl buttons and cloth. Artists in the Broome area still make Riji today. Some use the old, sacred patterns, while others create more modern designs.
