Bula.
Often referred to as the ‘Crossroads of the South Pacific’ because of its geographical location, Fiji is home to people who have been called the friendliest on earth. It is made up of a chain of over 300 islands and is a cosmopolitan cocktail of culture, race and religion.
FIJI's 333 islands and atolls are the epitome of a South Pacific paradise, with sunshine, palm-lined beaches and sparkling lagoons fringed with coral reefs. With a population of just over 750,000, FIJI spans an area of 18,200 km, taken up mostly by the two major islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The country's capital, Suva is located at the south-eastern end of Viti Levu, and is the nation's major port and largest city.
FIJI’s 330 islands are predominantly volcanic in origin, with some smaller coral or limestone islets. Of these, only 106 are actually inhabited. The higher rainfall regions in Fiji’s east are lush with tall rainforests and trees such as mahogany and vesi. In the drier western districts, sugar cane is grown through much of coastal Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Coconut plantations are common throughout FIJI.
As the Fijians had no written language and relied on memory for their history (the wise men memorising intricate genealogical tables), we have no record of what happened. Potsherds, hooks and artefacts unearthed in archaeological excavations are clues to the past. These show settlement of FIJI to have been achieved some four thousand years ago whereas today most Fijian people trace their ancestry through some ten generations to the landing of the canoe the Kaunitoni and the chiefs Lutunasobasoba and Degei.At the time of European contact FIJI was a feudal society with a chiefly system. The first European to discover the islands was the Dutch Explorer Abel Tasman, who first sighted FIJI in 1643. More than 130 years later, in 1755, Captain James Cook came to FIJI. The British ruled from 1874, but in 1970 it became a fully independent nation with constitutional arrangements to ensure that traditional Fijian interests were preserved.
Fijian society is male-dominated with a hereditary chief system still firmly in place. Even when living in urban areas, Fijian people will refer to their village as home. Protocol from village life is retained in urban areas, so visiting a home in the city requires the same protocol to be observed as entering a house in a traditional village. The combination of Fijian, Chinese, Indian, colonial European and other Pacific Island ethnicities has created an exciting cultural mix. The differing races and religions within FIJI have created a variety of traditional ceremonies with Diwali (the Indian Festival of Lights) and Christmas observed by all. The ceremony of drinking yaqona (kava) is highly respected by Fijians.
The artistic feeling of the early Fijians was expressed in the construction of the great war canoes; in the building and decoration of temples and chiefs houses; in the decoration of weapons, clothing, pottery and in the intricate and colourful decoration of the person. The meke, a combination of song and dance, are popular to this day. Arts and crafts are an important part of daily life in Fiji. One of FIJI's most famous craft works is the beautiful tapa cloth. The tapa cloth is used in ritual ceremonies and worn as a traditional item of clothing. The stencilled decorations on the Fijian tapa cloth are unique to the village or family of origin.
