Riji
Encyclopedia
Riji are the pearl
shells traditionally worn by Aboriginal men in the north-west part of Australia, around present day Broome
. The word Riji is from the Bardi
language. Another word for it is jakuli.
Rijis were worn as pubic coverings, like a loin cloth, and attached with hairstring
from a belt or band around the waist. Only men initiated
to the highest degree could traditionally wear them.
They were often incised with sacred patterns, which could be tribal insignia, or have other meanings, or tell stories. Riji are associated with water, spiritual powers and healing due to the luminous shimmering quality of their surfaces. Bardi equate the light reflecting off the shells to lightning flashes, which are prominent during the monsoon
, and to lights flashing off the cheeks of the Rainbow Serpent
, who is closely linked to water and rain.
One of the unique patterns used in the Kimberley region of Western Australia
is a pattern of interlocking designs. The incised designs are highlighted with a mixture of ochre
and resin
, which is rubbed into the grooves. Decorated and plain pearl shells are used for rain-making and magical purposes or for trade.
Riji were objects of great value and were traded with inland Aborigines along ancient trade routes over vast areas of the continent. They have been found at Yuendumu in the desert, south-eastern Arnhem Land
, Queensland
and South Australia
.
Often plain pearl shells were decorated further along trade routes, far from their place of origin.
Artists are still making Riji today, and many can be seen in Broome. Some use the older, sacred patterns, while others choose to use more modern designs.
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
shells traditionally worn by Aboriginal men in the north-west part of Australia, around present day Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
. The word Riji is from the Bardi
Bardi people
The Bardi people are the Indigenous Australians from the area north of Broome and parts of the Dampier Peninsular in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.Djarindjin, Lombadina and One Arm Point are three Bardi communities in the area....
language. Another word for it is jakuli.
Rijis were worn as pubic coverings, like a loin cloth, and attached with hairstring
Australian Aboriginal fibrecraft
Australian Aboriginal fibrecraft refers to the various ways Australian Aborigines created fibres traditionally. Materials used depended on where the people lived in Australia.-Bark:...
from a belt or band around the waist. Only men initiated
Initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
to the highest degree could traditionally wear them.
They were often incised with sacred patterns, which could be tribal insignia, or have other meanings, or tell stories. Riji are associated with water, spiritual powers and healing due to the luminous shimmering quality of their surfaces. Bardi equate the light reflecting off the shells to lightning flashes, which are prominent during the monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
, and to lights flashing off the cheeks of the Rainbow Serpent
Rainbow Serpent
The Rainbow Serpent is a common motif in the art and mythology of Aboriginal Australia. It is named for the snake-like meandering of water across a landscape and the colour spectrum caused when sunlight strikes water at an appropriate angle relative to the observer.The Rainbow Serpent is seen as...
, who is closely linked to water and rain.
One of the unique patterns used in the Kimberley region of Western Australia
Kimberley region of Western Australia
The Kimberley is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is located in the northern part of Western Australia, bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts, and on the east by the Northern Territory.The region...
is a pattern of interlocking designs. The incised designs are highlighted with a mixture of ochre
Ochre Pits
The Ochre Pits are a popular tourist destination in Australia's Northern Territory, approximately 50 kilometres west of Alice Springs along the Larapinta Trail....
and resin
Spinifex
Spinifex may refer to:* Spinifex , a genus of grass which is indigenous to the coastal areas of Australasia and Indonesia* Triodia , a hummock grass of arid Australia, covering twenty percent of the Australian continent ** Spinifex resin* Spinifex people, or Pila Nguru, an Australian...
, which is rubbed into the grooves. Decorated and plain pearl shells are used for rain-making and magical purposes or for trade.
Riji were objects of great value and were traded with inland Aborigines along ancient trade routes over vast areas of the continent. They have been found at Yuendumu in the desert, south-eastern Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land
The Arnhem Land Region is one of the five regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around 500 km from the territory capital Darwin. The region has an area of 97,000 km² which also covers the area of Kakadu National...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Often plain pearl shells were decorated further along trade routes, far from their place of origin.
Artists are still making Riji today, and many can be seen in Broome. Some use the older, sacred patterns, while others choose to use more modern designs.