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Episode 6 : Fiji
Fiji has a long history of Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, Indian, Chinese and European
influences. The indigenous people have managed to hold onto their traditional rites and
practices - meke (narrative dance), bure (house) construction, kava ceremonies, tapa-cloth
making and pottery.
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Highlights:
Performing a traditional dance for the people of a Fijian village - drinking a concoction, made from the root of a plant, that
makes your throad and mouth go numb - watching a meke!
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The Meke
A meke is a traditional Fijian dance performed during celebrations, with music for the dance
provided by bamboo tubes and a wooden drum called a lali. Males and females perform separate
styles of the dance, and never dance together.
The dance for men is called the meke moto and usually involves long spears, meant to symbolize
the ancient warriors of the village. They wear skirts made from vau, thin strips of the trunk
of the vau tree.
The female dance is called the seasea. They wear sulus, with patterns of the traditional tapa
cloth, and silk short sleeve shirts all of the same color.
The meaning of the meke is told through the lyrics of the songs created by the daunivucu,
a Fijian composer. Every meke has its own lyrics.
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Other facts:
Kava is a drink made from the root of Piper methysticum, a type of pepper plant. It is
also called Yaqona, and its very important to Fijian culture. Drank from large wooden
bowls, the ritual of drinking kava is used for welcoming visitors and for storytelling.
When offered a drink from a bilo (half a coconut shell), clap once, accept the bilo and say
'bula', which means 'cheers', or literally, 'life'. Then, drink it all in one go. Clap three
times in gratification and try not to look like you want to hurl.
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