A story of kina, toea

IN the 1800s, there was a man named Parjani from Mohu in the eastern part of East Sepik.
We regard him as our prophet.
During his time, he always sang a prophetic song called “Wongle” with our forefathers.
One of the songs he sang was “Nana moni ie kina moni toea moni” meaning “What money? It is kina and toea”.
He communicated with a divine spirit called Sagunduo when he sang that song.
One day, he prophesied events that would happen in the future.
As time passed, Parjani with members of his village sailed out to the ocean to Walis Island via Turubu village to the Murik Lakes.
They went to trade goods with the Karau people.
It was there that Parjani fell asleep.
He went into a deep sleep and people thought he was dead so they buried him alive.
Years later as Papua New Guinea gained Independence, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and Sir Julius Chan named our currency kina and toea.
We weren’t surprised by that as we knew that our forefather prophesied it.
Thank you Sir Michael and Sir Julius.

Mohuduo,
Uolifu Nusa