Tanoa Ceremonial Bowl

Fiji's then-Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka presented this gift to Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong during his Official Visit to Singapore from September 7 to 8, 1998.

^{Dimensions: 46 × 46 × 20 cm}

This gift is called a tanoa and is made from a hard wood called vesi. The tanoa is used for mixing an herbal drink called yaqona , a ceremonial drink central to Fijian welcome rituals and important social occasions.

During the ceremony, the tanoa is placed on the floor, and participants sit around it while the preparer mixes the drink. The coconut-fibre cord attached to the bowl is arranged to face the chief or Guest of Honour. The prepared yaqona is then served to the guests using a coconut shell cup.