Making Bagi — The Ancient Shell Money of Papua New Guinea (Ep21)

Deep in Papua New Guinea’s island chain, we uncover ancient traditions still alive today — from stone axes to the making of Bagi, the shell money that continues to shape island life. Join us for a rare look into real island life and the cultural exchanges that still define this remote corner of the Pacific. 🌴 Don’t forget to subscribe and sail with us as we explore more untold stories from the sea. As we sail across the turquoise waters of Papua New Guinea, our lines go tight — three big pelagics, mackerel and tuna, strike while we make our way toward the remote island of Panawina. But as the day unfolds, something unusual happens — no canoes, no visitors. In a region where hospitality is a way of life, silence often means something deeper. Later, we learn the village has been caught in local tensions linked to sorcery — a reality still deeply woven into life in these islands. That evening, a kind man finally paddles out to meet us — a village pastor with a warm smile. We gift him the fish we caught, and in return, he welcomes us ashore. At his home, we’re shown an ancient tradition — the making and meaning of the stone axe, once a vital tool and powerful trade item, symbolizing strength, skill, and ancestral connection. That evening, he shares a rare and beautiful tradition — the ancient art of making Bagi, also known as Mwali, the traditional shell money of the Milne Bay region. Using simple handmade tools, he crafts this valuable currency from the chama shell, a large red shell they dive for in deep waters. 🐚 About Bagi: Bagi are carefully shaped and polished shell disks or segments, usually strung together into a necklace-like form. Each polished shell piece represents wealth, status, and social connection. These shells are shaped, smoothed, and strung by hand — a form of traditional currency that has been used for generations to trade food, pigs, sailing canoes, and even for bride price — a timeless system of universal exchange that still binds communities together today. What began as a simple sail and a few fish became a journey into the heart of a living culture — one still bound by generosity, craftsmanship, and the rhythm of the ocean. 🌀 A story of connection, belief, and timeless exchange in the islands of Papua New Guinea. 🐚 Episode 21 – Sailing Louisiades, Papua New Guinea 📍 Location: Panawina Island, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea 🎣 Themes: Traditional Money, Bagi (Mwali) Shell Currency, Stone Axe Traditions, Island Culture, Sorcery Beliefs, Sailing Adventure, Papua New Guinea Documentary, Milne Bay Culture ⏱️ Timestamps: 🐟 0:00 – Poppy reels in her first mackerel and tuna as we sail toward Panawina Island, Papua New Guinea ⛵ 1:35 – Once Upon a Reef intro — life and travel by sailboat through remote Melanesia ⚡ 3:36 – Why no one visited us — uncovering local conflicts tied to sorcery and belief 🍲 6:41 – Sharing a meal and stories with the island’s pastor and his family 🪓 7:07 – Discovering the ancient craft and meaning of the traditional stone axe 🐚 7:24 – The making of Bagi (Mwali) — how the people of Papua New Guinea still create and use their traditional shell money 🕯️ 8:27 – Traditions when someone passes away — how belief and custom guide village life 🫶 Support Our Journey: 💡 Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/c/onceuponareef ☕ Buy us a coffee → https://buymeacoffee.com/onceuponareef 🎁 Send us a gift → https://throne.com/onceuponareef 🌍 Follow Our Adventures: 📸 Instagram → @onceuponareef & @wheres.poppy 🎥 Poppy's YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/wherespoppy 📧 Business Inquiries: onceuponareef@protonmail.com Hey there, we’re Ryan and Poppy, a couple of adventure-loving sailors exploring the most remote reefs and islands in the world. Through our sailing documentaries, we hope to inspire, raise awareness, and support ongoing research to help protect these natural life systems. 🧭 Subscribe and join the voyage! #PapuaNewGuinea #Bagi #TraditionalMoney #SailingDocumentary #IslandLife #ShellMoney #OnceUponAReef #PacificCulture #AdventureTravel #CulturalHeritage