It is our pleasure to invite you to an evening of art and storytelling which will shine a light on the forced displacement of the Banaban community and their ongoing human rights struggles.

On 2 March at 7pm, Auckland’s Silo 6 will feature a special event with honoured guests from Rabi, live Banaban dance performances and storytelling. This event is part of an art exhibition from 20 February – 9 March which hosts artwork including handicrafts, photos and videos from the Banaban community that highlights their culture and history.

In the mid 20th century, hundreds of Banabans were displaced from Banaba Island to Rabi due to the devastating impacts of phosphate mining. Today, Banabans on Rabi continue to face discrimination as a partially self-governing entity falling between the cracks of Fiji and Kiribati. Their stories remain largely unheard in Aotearoa New Zealand, where the benefits of mining allowed the British to advance colonisation and kickstart New Zealand’s agricultural sector, at the expense of many Pacific Island communities.

The exhibit aims to raise awareness for the Banaban community and highlight their key demands for the governments of Fiji and Kiribati. They have co-created this exhibit in order to tell their story to the world – a story which offers lessons for the standing up to extractive industry and preparing for impending climate-included displacement in the region.

The exhibition has been designed and created by the Banaban Womens Organization (BWO), the International Center for Advocates Against Discrimination (ICAAD) and the Banaban community in Auckland and Rabi. It is supported by Creative New Zealand, Amnesty International, The New Zealand Commission for UNESCO, and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

Please share this with any contacts who might be interested, and we hope to see you at Silo 6!

Open 20 February – 9 March (Free parking after 5pm):
Tuesdays and Wednesday 12-6pm
Thursdays and Fridays 1-7pm
Saturdays 12-6pm
Sundays 12-5pm

#JusticeforRabi