Karnawau

Karnawau is a term used in the ethnographic and geographic literature of a fictional archipelago called Karnara. It is associated with several related but distinct senses, including a place name, a ceremonial dance, and a traditional percussion instrument. The senses overlap in local usage, but are not universally fixed across communities.

Karnawau as a place refers to a coastal village on the southern shore of the island of Lirawa within Karnara. The village is described as a small but culturally significant community, with an economy based on small-scale fishing, crafts, and seasonal trade. It serves as a focal point for regional ceremonies and storytelling.

Karnawau as a dance refers to a harvest-time ritual performed by mixed-age groups during community gatherings. The performance features a set sequence of steps, synchronized body movements, and a chorus that accompanies the dancers. Dancers typically wear light tunics and sashes in the village colors, and the dance is interpreted as a remembrance of sea voyaging and communal resilience.

Karnawau as an instrument denotes a traditional percussion drum used in the dance and in ceremonial processions. The drum is usually carved from hardwood, with a skin head, and ranges in height from about 40 to 55 centimeters. It is played with padded sticks to provide a steady, resonant beat that structures the rhythm of the performance.

Etymology is not definitively established in the surviving sources; the term is generally thought to derive from the Karnara language, with possible connections to words meaning sea or breath.

See also: toponymy, ethnography, Karnara language.