Who Are the Fijians?
The iTaukei (indigenous Fijians) are a Melanesian-Polynesian people of approximately 475,000, comprising about 57% of Fiji's population. They speak Fijian, a Malayo-Polynesian language with numerous dialects across the archipelago's 330 islands. Fijian culture is characterized by the chiefly system, kava ceremonies, communal land ownership, and elaborate ceremonial traditions. The arrival of Indian indentured laborers (1879-1916) created Fiji's unique multi-ethnic society, with ongoing tensions between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians shaping the nation's modern politics.
The Yaqona Ceremony
Yaqona (kava) is central to Fijian social and ceremonial life. Made from the crushed root of the pepper plant mixed with water, this mildly narcotic drink is consumed in elaborate ceremonies marking everything from village meetings to welcoming guests. The sevusevu ceremony—presenting kava to a chief when visiting a village—remains obligatory for respectful visitors. Participants clap once before drinking from a coconut shell (bilo), drain it completely, then clap three times. The ceremony creates connection, marks hierarchy, and embodies Fijian values of community and respect.
Chiefly System
Traditional Fijian society is hierarchically organized around chiefs (turaga) who hold spiritual and political authority. The Vunivalu (paramount chiefs) of major confederacies wielded significant power historically; their descendants retain influence today. Chiefs are served through kerekere (a system of mutual obligation), receive tribute, and mediate disputes. While democratic governance officially rules, traditional chiefs often hold parallel authority—village chiefs (turaga ni koro) manage local affairs alongside elected officials. The Great Council of Chiefs, though suspended, symbolized this dual system's importance.
Communal Land
About 87% of Fiji's land is communally owned by mataqali (clans) and cannot be sold—only leased. This protection, enshrined in the constitution, preserves iTaukei land rights but creates economic tensions with Indo-Fijians who can only lease, not own, agricultural land. The Native Land Trust Board manages leases, distributing income to landowning units. Debates over land reform—between those seeking economic modernization and those protecting indigenous rights—have driven much of Fiji's political conflict, including multiple coups that explicitly invoked indigenous land protection.
Contemporary Fiji
Modern Fiji navigates complex ethnic politics between iTaukei and Indo-Fijians (now about 37% of the population after emigration). Four coups since 1987 have invoked indigenous rights, though the 2006 coup leader later pursued multiracial politics. Rugby is a national passion; Fiji's sevens team has won Olympic gold. Climate change threatens low-lying areas and coastal villages. Tourism drives the economy, commodifying traditional culture while providing income. How Fiji balances indigenous rights, multiracial democracy, and economic development remains its central challenge.
References
- Ravuvu, A. (1983). Vaka i Taukei: The Fijian Way of Life
- Kaplan, M. (1995). Neither Cargo nor Cult: Ritual Politics and the Colonial Imagination in Fiji
- Lal, B. V. (1992). Broken Waves: A History of the Fiji Islands in the Twentieth Century