Pacific Studies Journal
Abstract
The "Niudity" poem sequence by Teresia Teaiwa explores the layered metaphor of the coconut (niu) to reflect on identity, vulnerability, and postcolonial femininity in Oceania. The poems interweave bodily imagery with cultural symbolism—where the coconut’s husk, shell, and flesh represent stages of exposure, resilience, and inner worth. In playful yet poignant verse, Teaiwa deconstructs the idea of nudity into niudity—a state shaped not just by nakedness, but by misrecognition, resistance, and cultural disguise. Her fictional dictionary entries parody colonial linguistic authority while empowering indigenous reinterpretation. The final poem subverts expectations with sharp commentary on exploitation, voice, and the politics of exposure, leaving unresolved the tension between desire for expression and exhaustion from being misunderstood.
Recommended Citation
Teaiwa, Teresia
(2007)
"niudity (I-IV),"
Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 30:
No.
1, Article 17.
Available at:
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol30/iss1/17
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