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culture
As a multiracial and multicultural nation, Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of
indigenous, Indian, and European traditions. The main focus of this article is
traditions native to Fiji; customs of immigrant cultures are covered more fully
in other articles. For the culture of Indo-Fijians, see Culture of India.
Language
Readers need to be careful interpreting Fijian words in this, and similar
articles. The following conventions exist—
The letter "c" is pronounced as is the English "th" sound. Therefore, "Laucala
Bay" is spoken as Lauthala Bay. Each letter "d" is preceded with an "n" sound.
Nadi (the airport town) is pronounced Nandi. Each "b" letter is preceded with an
"m" sound. The town Ba is pronounced mBa. The letter "q" is pronounced as an "ng"
sound as in the English word "sing". Beqa is pronounced mBenga. The letter "g"
by itself is usually sounded as an "ng" sound too, although somewhat shorter
than a "q". In Fijian words each vowel is given its full weight and never
shortened, skipped or slurred.
Hierarchy
Fijian society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family
unit, the village, and the vanua (land). A hierarchy of chiefs presides over
villages, clans, and tribes. Chiefly positions are hereditary; a deceased chief
is invariably followed by a kinsman, though not necessarily his own son. This
reflects Polynesian influence: in most other Melanesian societies, chiefs are
appointed on merit.
The largest social unit for Fijians is the Yavusa, defined by historian R.A.
Derrick as the "direct agnate descendants of a single kalou-vu" (deified
ancestor). Chiefly succession was from older brother to younger brother, after
the death of their father. When the youngest brother died, the eldest son of the
eldest brother became chief. This tradition still influences Fijian society
today, though less rigidly: there is more of a tendency nowadays towards
primogeniture.
Each brother in the family then formed his own branch of the yavusa, called the
Mataqali. Each mataqali became the custodian of a specific task. A fully
developed Yavusa has several mataqali:
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