This traditional bow-stave belongs to the Kuki tribe of Manipur and represents a fundamental component of the tribe's hunting and combat tools. Split bamboo was used; it consists of two long, gently curving broken pieces, each with a little protruding end for attaching the string. While not an entire bow, this stave reflects the careful selection of material and shaping technique embraced by tribal artisans. Bamboo was light yet strong and flexible, perfect for translating distance and accuracy into tribal archery. The stave has been carved so that bending into this curve adds tension and strength when the bow is strung, thus earning the Kuki peoples' knowledge of physics, form, and function.
The bow and arrow, among other hunting weapons, were fundamental to the sustenance of tribal culture and defense of kinship communities. In the objective of preservation, such artifacts can be seen today, highlighting the practical and symbolic significance of weaponry in tribal culture. The bamboo stave evokes a memory of the resourcefulness and skill of indigenous communities like the Kukis and their association with nature through the use of traditional tools.