Making Objects with Banana Fibres

1Where banana fibres come from

The "trunk" of a banana plant is not wood. It is made of many leaf sheaths wrapped tightly round each other, like layers. When they are stripped and dried, they give long, strong threads called fibres. Dry banana leaves are also useful.

2Preparing the fibres

1. Collect old sheaths from a plant that has already been harvested, with permission.
2. Strip them into long, thin strips.
3. Dry them in the sun for a few days. Wet fibres go mouldy and rot.

3Twisting and weaving

One fibre is weak. But when many fibres are twisted together they make a strong string or rope, which is very hard to pull apart. People have made rope by twisting fibres for thousands of years.

Fibres can also be woven: passed over and under each other to make a flat mat or the sides of a basket.

4What you can make

• a football of dry leaves tied with fibre
• rope for tying firewood
• a ring pad (ingata) for carrying a jerrycan or basket on the head
• a mat, a doll or a small basket

5Making a banana-leaf football

1. Crumple a dry leaf into a tight ball for the centre.
2. Wrap more dry leaves round it, pulling them tight.
3. Tie fibre strings round it in many directions, so it holds together.
4. Keep adding layers until it is the size you want. Squeeze it and test the bounce!

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.