Media & Culture

Media & Communications
The government-owned weekly is Te Ukera while Kiribati New Star is the private weekly newspaper. Both the Protestant and Catholic churches also publish newsletters and periodicals which are important sources of information. There is no domestic television service and Radio Kiribati is the state-run radio service.

Telecom Services Kiribati Ltd (TSKL) is the sole telecommunications provider on the island.

Arts & Culture
Kiribati culture is centered on the family, the church and the sea. The primitive settlers come from the Southeast Asian and Samoa provinces. The popular handicrafts include making baskets, designing hand made table mats, making cups out of pandanus leaves, using sea shells for ornamenting wonderful pieces of necklaces.

Kiribati folk music is based on chanting and vocalising, conveyed mainly through body thumping. The standing dance popularly called as Te Kaimatoa, or the hip dance known as the Te Buki accompanied with drumming instruments are popular dance forms. Local songs based on love themes are played during important occasions. Stick dances known as 'tirere' are also carried out during an auspicious occasion. Kiribati Mwaie dancing, a popular dance form with elements like chorus, dance, ballet and lyric drama is performed by natives where the dance reflects the life of the people.

The main languages are Kiribati and English. The majority of people are Christians with more than half belonging to the Roman Catholic faith followed by Kiribati Protestants, the Bahai faith and Islam.

Sports & Recreation
The popular sports are athletics, basketball, football, table-tennis, volleyball taekwondo and weight-lifting.

Kiribati is known for its traditional martial arts and the popular forms include Nabakai, Nakara, Ruabou, Tabiang, Taborara, Tebania, Temata-aua, Te Rawarawanimon, and Terotauea. Game fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving are available on both Christmas Island and Tarawa.