Tala ‘Kai (Folk Tales)
There are many kinds of stories (Tala).
Tala ‘Kai are imagined tales told for enjoyment, often in darkened houses after an evening meal. These are beloved tales of magic, of adventure, of famous characters. Some are traditional from Nanumea, probably passed down for hundreds of years, while others are newer, remembered and borrowed from other places.
In the recent past in Nanumea people would lie around on mats, pillows at the ready, the gentle light of a hurricane lamp or a “bottle lamp”, molii fangu, giving a cozy feel to this most homelike of activities. Younger children would often fall asleep as these tales were told by an elder.
These Tala never grew old — hearing them again and again is part of their charm. Different tellers add their own dramatic and vocal touches, adding depth and enjoyment.
These stories were recorded using a cassette tape recorder. We have digitized them and are gradually posting new selections as we finish them -- check back from time to time to see what is new.
Inosia Valo
Inosia was a gifted storyteller, well known in Nanumea for her pleasing telling of folk tales, Tala 'Kai. We recorded 8 stories from her, but her memory was wonderful and she probably knew many more tala.
The daughter of Valo and Neke, Inosia and was born in Nanumea about 1898, just a few years after Britain made the Ellice Islands a protectorate. She died in Nanumea in 1982, some 84 years old. Inosia married Selulo about 1916 during World War I. They did not have any children of their own, but adopted Selulo Jr.
Inosia later adopted and raised Selulo's son, Lotoalofa -- he lived with her when we recorded stories from her in 1973 and 1974. Inosia's household and photo in our 1973 Family Photos was household number 3.
Recorded September 4, 1973 — in the evening in Inosia’s house in Haumaefa i tai. Present were Kiti, Ane, Sunema, Liki and Aneli foliki - all enjoying Inosia’s stories
Inosia Valo and grandson Lotoalofa Selulo, Nanumea, August 10 1973
Fakatomuaga fakatatou mai ia Kiti (51 seconds)
Te Puhi mo te Kapa Masi (tape 18A, 7 minutes 36 seconds)
Sina mo Tokalalagi (tape 18A, 12 minutes 18 seconds)
Tulivae Pupula (tape 18A, 3 minutes 19 seconds)
Te Vaka o Manumanu (tape 18A, 9 minutes 13 seconds)
Tulekaleka, Tulivaegie, Finemata (tape 18A, 8 minutes 5 seconds)
Recorded April 29, 1974 — in Inosia’s house in the evening. Inosia had spread out epas and papas for us and was lying in the dim light of her molii fagu when we arrived (Ane, Kiti, Laina Teuea). Sakana Pinoka came by and joined us, listening and then told some stories too. A very nice evening!
Tama mo tana Ika Feekai (tape 7B, 8 minutes 58 seconds)
Tulekaleka mo Finemata (tape 7B, 6 minutes 6 seconds)
Tanifotahi, Valekakii mo Valekakaa (tape 7B, 8 minutes 31 seconds)
Conversation after Inosia’s telling of Tanifotahi (tape 7B, 6 minutes)
Fualia
Fualia (whose parents were Fikia and Tevalega) was born in Nanumea Oct 27, 1925. At the age of 24 she married Makisi and over the years they had at least seven daughters and sons together. Makisi died in 1964, and Fualia later lived in the Hauma (Mapusaga) household of her sister, Fualosa and her husband Tuku.
In December 1974, Megaa Telagai helped us record seven stories told by Fualia, which are here for you to enjoy. Thanks Fualia and Megaa!
Fualia with grandkids — at her home in the household of Tuku and Fualosa — Hauma/Mapusaga, 16 November 1973
Tale of a King and his pet Katafa bird (9 minutes 9 seconds)
Tale of Sione and Siaki (20 minutes 33 seconds)
Tale of a Siaki and Mele (12 minutes 46 seconds)
Tale of Tuaapine and Nakaa (8 minutes 31 seconds)
Tale of Tinilau and Kafutae Pakupaku (7 minutes 27 seconds)
Tale of Kaalau and wife Talotalo (8 minutes 9 seconds)
Tale of Tagata Katoa and wife Hinalua Katafa (20 minutes 13 seconds)
Sakana Pinoka
Sakana has a very animated and natural way of telling stories - you can imagine the dim light of a bottle lamp, everyone lying around and enjoying her tales.
Sakana was born in 1931 in Nanumaga; her father was Maea of Nanumaga, her mother Haalotu of Nanumea. Sakanaa married Pinoka in Nanumea in 1956 and except for a period of some years in Nauru with her husband, lived her whole life in Nanumea.
Sakana and Pinoka had six children: Anuanu, Teoti, Vaopua, Pulaka [Tilita], Teputi and Tapauli. They lived in Lolua i loto in 1973-74 and also in 1984. Sakana lives today (March 2026) in Nanumea with her daughter, Pulaka. and family. In the family picture here, Pulaka is the little girl at the left sitting in Pinoka's lap.
The Tale of Fogafogailoata (15 minutes 40 seconds)
The Tale of Posini (with 2 songs sung with Laina at the end)(14 minutes, 45 seconds)
Family of Pinoka and Sakana, Nanumea, 30 October 1973
Male Hipa
Male was born in Nanumea in May of 1895, just a few years after a British warship, the H.M.S. Curacoa, visited the island and its captain raised the British flag and declared that Nanumea (and Tuvalu) would now be under “British protection”.
Male’s parents were Taukave and Meleane. As a young woman Male married Hipa Hipa. They had numerous children and grandchildren.
There are two stories here, recorded for us by Male’s grandson Megaa Telagai on October 7 and December 7, 1974. Male was 79 when those recordings were made.
Male’s speech at the wedding of another grandson, Tiligana who married Lofale, can be heard under “Speeches”. Male died in Nanumea in 1983 at the age of 88.
The Tale of Alomauanaki (Tape 6B - about 12 minutes)
Bible story of Ulisese and his army in Egypt (Tape 16A - about 3 minutes)
Male and Hipa and family — Nanumea, August 15, 1973
Vae Tautele/Tomasi
Vae Tautele was in Nanumea about 1892, the same year the British warship , the H.M.S. Curacoa, visited the island and its captain raised the British flag and declared that Nanumea (and Tuvalu) would now be under “British protection”.
Her father was Tautele {also known as Tomasi], her mother Lumepa. Tomasi’s parents were Kaimoko and Tepia, Lumepa’s were Poto and Liki.
Vae had several daughters, among them Fakamanatu and Meliangi.
There are two stories here, recorded for us by Megaa Telangai at Vae’s sister’s house (Taeamo) on the afternoon of October 12 1974. Vae was about 82 when these recordings were made. Vae was still alive when we re-visited Nanumea in 1984, but likely died within a few years after that. She would have been in her 90s.
The Tale of Taligalaupaha (tape 39A, about 7 minutes)
The story of Mele, Melemailevi and Melemailesami (tape 39A, about 9 minutes)
Vae (on left) with her older sister Taeamo. The sisters lived together with Vae’s daughter, Meliangi and Meliangi’s children in Haumaefa inamo — August 28, 1973
Kamo
Information and Stories to come
Kamo told 5 stories in 1974:
Maulekone & Laulekone
Pakihole
Te Fuaga (Samoan story)
Tepelee & Tiaki
Pepe
(tape 39A and 39B)
Ane
Information and Stories to come
Ane told 5 stories in 1974
Kui
Tinilau
Naleau
Hina & Puga
Tautepuu
(tapes 16B & 39A)
Vaha
Information and Stories to come
Vaha told 3 stories in 1974
Origin of name Lakena
Second World War (funny tale)
Sione
(tapes 16A & 16BA)
Nele
Information and Stories to come
Nele told 2 stories in 1974
Tuli mo Akiaki
Manualii
(tape 16A)
Uni
Information and Stories to come
Uni told 1 story in 1974
Teikalau (toa mai Beru)
(tape 16A)
Other Stories in addition to those above
More to come!!