Kiribati Bikenibeu History: A Journey Through Time
Kiribati, a small island nation in the Central Pacific, has a rich and fascinating history. The island nation, which is comprised of 33 atolls and coral islands, has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC. The people of Kiribati have a long and storied history, and their culture has been shaped by the influences of various cultures and religions. In this article, we will take a look at the history of Kiribati, from its ancient origins to the present day.
The first inhabitants of Kiribati were the ancestors of the modern day I-Kiribati people. These people are believed to have arrived in the area around 3,000 BC, and were likely Austronesian seafarers from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The I-Kiribati people developed a unique culture and language, and were the first people to inhabit the islands of Kiribati.
The first Europeans to visit Kiribati were the Spanish, who arrived in 1568. The Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendaña de Neira named the islands the “Granajes”, and claimed them for Spain. However, the Spanish did not settle the islands, and it wasn’t until the late 19th century that the islands were colonized by the British.
In 1892, the British established the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate, which included the islands of Kiribati. The British introduced Christianity to the islands, and the I-Kiribati people began to convert to Christianity. In 1916, the British declared the islands to be a British colony, and the islanders were granted British citizenship.
During World War II, the islands of Kiribati were occupied by the Japanese. After the war, the islands were returned to the British, and the territory was renamed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1975, the islands of Kiribati achieved independence, and the nation of Kiribati was born.
Today, the people of Kiribati are a proud and independent nation. The I-Kiribati people continue to practice their traditional culture and religion, and their language is still spoken on the islands. The nation of Kiribati is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and is an important part of the Pacific Islands region.
Kiribati is a nation with a rich and fascinating history, and its people have a long and storied past. From its ancient origins to the present day, the people of Kiribati have been shaped by the influences of various cultures and religions. The nation of Kiribati is a proud and independent nation, and its people continue to practice their traditional culture and language.