12 Feb 2013

Solomons film about ngali nut premiers in Tahiti

3:35 pm on 12 February 2013

A Solomon Islands filmmaker is hoping to raise awareness about the significance of the ngali nut when his film premiers at the FIFO film festival in Tahiti tomorrow.

Adilah Dolaiano, says his film, Ngali-Nut of Life, aims to alert people to the cultural importance of the nut in the Malaita province in the Solomons.

He says the ngali tree is traditionally used to mark land ownership, and the nut is used as food and a peace symbol between different tribes.

"The sad thing is that people are cutting down the tree for houses and firewood. Maybe it's because they don't really understand the story behind the tree."

Adilah Dolaiano says the high number of trees are being cut down could cause centuries old traditions with nature to be destroyed.