Polynesian musical instruments - Tahiti Tourisme (2024)

The ‘ukulele was created in Hawaii in the 19th century, as a copy of the small machette guitars brought to the island by Portuguese sailors from Madeira. It was slowly introduced to the rest of the Polynesian triangle and today it is an emblematic instrument of Tahitian music.

The pounding rhythms of the pahu drum give depth and emotion to the music. To make the drum, A large round section of tree trunk is hollowed out and the skin of a shark or goat is stretched tightly over each end. It was used to accompany the dances and chants during ritual ceremonies. The pahu can vary in size, with smaller versions producing a higher pitch, in the same way as a snare drum compared with a big bass drum.

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Tahitian is mainly an oral culture, spread by word of mouth from generation to generation. But another means of transmission of the ancestral culture and traditions is through dance. The graceful, sensual and sometimes erotic mouvements are all precise and have a particular meaning. A music and dance spectacle in The Islands of Tahiti is a magical voyage to the very heart of Polynesian culture.

Learn more about Tahitian dance

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The Tahitian language

Tahiti has a rich and thriving culture of which the language is a vital part. The language is called ‘ma’ohi‘ locally and is spoken by most of the population, along with French. The two local television channels transmit daily news and other programs in the Tahitian language.

Learn the Tahitian lexicon

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