International Relations

Art & Culture

Koba (or Cova) Lima, the name of the district around Suai, literally means ‘five’ (lima) ‘baskets’ (koba), as in the number of sub-districts. The baskets are used for betel nuts and limes to welcome guests and for coins exchanged during traditional weddings and other ceremonies. They can also hold offerings to gods, goddesses and ancestors.

The name ‘Suai’ originally came from the three Tetun words su rai henek. su (to dig), rai (land or earth), henek (grains of stone), rai-henek (sands). Su rai henek means ‘digging the sand’, later shortened to ‘Su Rai’, then Suai

Textiles and Weaving

By producing, exchanging and owning sacred hand-woven cloth – tais – women maintain their strength and power within traditional clan-based society.

Tais are worn as ceremonial costumes and used for cultural and ritual exchange. Most importantly, they are used as burial cloths. Rural women, including many widows, make up the bulk of the weavers. Selling tais is the only way many can earn an income.

In September 2008, Friends of Suai hosted an exhibition of over 40 tais at St Kilda Town Hall. Accompanying the exhibition was a market and forum. Research by curator Dr Sara Niner reveals that tais weavers, like handcraft producers all over the world, face steep challenges in marketing their goods, getting a fair price and retaining the integrity of their products and practices. Tais have been used as corporate gifts by the City of Port Phillip.