Banaban Vision Publications

28/02/2026

‘Riots on Ocean Island (Banaba), 1925’ — discover the dramatic clash between Chinese and Gilbertese labourers that left one dead and seventeen injured. This in-depth article combines Arthur Grimble’s account with historic photographs taken by Stacey King's great-grandfather, John F. Williams, now digitally colourised, bringing this pivotal moment in Banaba’s history vividly to life. Read the full story: https://wix.to/PCBwvR1

Riots at Ocean Island. Chinese and Islanders Clash. One man was killed, and seventeen were injured.

27/02/2026

New on Banaban Voice: Read the full transcript of the controversial April 1947 land negotiations between the Banabans and Mr Maynard on Rabi Island. This important historical record, taken from Harry Maude’s Section 6 files, sheds light on the Banaban experience after forced relocation and the complex political challenges they faced. Read more: https://www.banaban.com/post/land-negotiations-between-the-banabans-and-mr-maynard-rabi-island-april-1947

This transcript is taken from an original report documenting the April 1947 negotiations between the Banabans and Mr Maynard, drawn from Harry Maude’s Section 6 files. It is a vital historical record that reveals the struggle, resilience, and political challenges faced by the Banaban people in the...

26/02/2026

Banaba, one of the most remote islands, was home to the Southern Hemisphere’s first open-air cinema. The Alexandra Theatre, opened in Sept 1910, and became a hub for the Island's entertainment for the Company staff and Islanders. These stories offer a fascinating glimpse into early island life on one of the most remote islands in the Pacific.

Read more: https://www.banaban.com/post/the-cinema-and-theatre-on-ocean-island-banaba

Discover a forgotten chapter of Pacific history.

The following story was provided by the late Frank Miller (1), Australia, March 1993Originally published as a Feature Story in Banaba/Ocean Island Newsletter, Issue No. 2 Apr - May 1993.John Robert Miller (2) was first employed by the Pacific Phosphate Co. (PPC) as a carpenter in November of 1908. H...

26/02/2026

“Snippets of Ocean Island / Banaba History”

This article explores moments from Banaba’s colonial past during the phosphate mining era — a period that profoundly reshaped the island, its land, and its people. It also shares memories of late Banaban elders following their relocation to Rabi, Fiji.

Through historical records, archival material, and personal insight, the story revisits life on Ocean Island under colonial administration and during the height of mining operations. These snippets offer a glimpse into the realities faced by Banabans as their homeland was transformed by extraction, foreign control, and global industry.

Understanding this period is essential to understanding Banaba today.

Read the full story here:
https://vocal.media/history/snippets-of-ocean-island-banaba-history

Stories from the Past ...

20/11/2025

"Coming Home to Banaba" documentary, produced by Jeremy Cooper for BBC OUL, UK 1997 - Gilbertese Version.
Translations and voice-overs provided by Ken Sigrah and Terimoa Sigrah.

This is "Okiran Mwengara ae Banaba" by Jeremy Cooper on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

20/11/2025

Should Banabans Call Australia Home?
For 80 years, Banaba’s sacred soil—rich in phosphate and the bones of ancestors—was mined to fuel Australia’s agricultural boom. Today, the Banaban people remain displaced, divided between Fiji and Kiribati, with no formal recognition from the nation that prospered most from their loss.

This isn’t just history—it’s a living legacy of environmental destruction, cultural erasure, and unanswered responsibility.

Read Stacey King's powerful piece on the forgotten ties between Banaba and Australia, and why it’s time for truth, recognition, and justice: Should Banabans Call Australia Home
Let’s not let silence bury the past. Share this story. Start the conversation.

Banaba (Ocean Island) major contribution to Australia's agriculture sector

24/10/2025

Finally at last 45 years after mining stopped on Banaba (Ocean Island)

PacWastePlus assisted Kiribati in asbestos management project progress

18/06/2025

📢 New Book Release 📢
"Essentially Being Banaban in a Changing World: Law, Culture and Identity" is now available.
This latest addition to the Banaban Study Series examines the complexities of Banaban law, culture, and identity, offering a profound exploration of a people’s journey through change and adaptation. Whether you’re a scholar, a history enthusiast, or simply eager to learn more about the Banaban experience, this book is an essential read.
📖 https://staceymkingauthor.com/books/essentially-being-banaban-in-a-changing-world-law-culture-and-identity/B0FD6TTSK7
Knowledge, resilience, and storytelling shape history—help spread the word.

Essentially Being Banaban in a Changing World How can the Banaban people navigate the challenges of the modern era while preserving their cultural identity and striving for self-determination? This compelling study delves into the core of Banaban heritage, exploring the traditional law of Te Rii Ni....

27/05/2025

Just uploaded Stacey M. King latest article:

Where Do the Banbans Go from Here?

24/05/2025

A new authors website for quick access to our publications:

Stacey M. King is a historian, author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has advocated for the Indigenous Banaban people for many decades. In 1989, she began researching her family's history for a historical novel based on their lives, Nakaa's Awakening: Land of Matang (Book One; 2000). In 1997,....

10/05/2025

Banaban Research Trip to Canberra - by Banaban Ken Sigrah, Australia