Nei Teukez the Primal Mother

Kiribati primal mother, named in the creation-genealogy prose of the existing Riiki and Na Kika entries (Na Atibu and Nei Teukez beget the second generation). Classed deity. Mother-of edges to the two existing children declared here; both need kiribati_nei_teukez appended to their parentIds, and Na Atibu needs the reciprocal spouse edge. Her newly-authored children Te Ikawai, Nei Marena and Te Nao carry her in their own parentIds.

Children

• World-Heaving Octopus
• Nei Marena
• Sky-Lifting Eel
• Te Ikawai the Eldest
• Te Nao the Wave

Domains

• foundation of the world

Relations

• spouse: The First Rock
• mother of: World-Heaving Octopus
• mother of: Sky-Lifting Eel

Sources

• Grimble, Arthur. Tungaru Traditions: Writings on the Atoll Culture of the Gilbert Islands (ed. H. E. Maude, 1989): Na Atibu and Nei Teukez beget Te Ikawai, Nei Marena, Te Nao, Na Kika and Riiki
• Grimble, Arthur. Myths from the Gilbert Islands, Folklore vol. 33 (1922); Nareau, en.wikipedia, accessed June 2026