Cost of iTaukei funerals

Timoci Gaunavinaka, Nausori

The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation's iTaukei language “Cucurui” programme coverage on the pros and cons of the traditional iTaukei funeral protocols is an important programme for all iTaukei people to see. It addresses many issues we all know about, but often feel too reluctant to openly talk about. Thank you so much Malakai Qaqacava, Reverend Kolivuso and FBC TV. While our Hindu and Muslim communities show true care and respect in the way they carry out their funeral obligations, our iTaukei cultural protocols on funerals is at many times enticed with extreme nonsense, deceit and sometimes “showing off ”.

We spend so much money on the funeral of a dead relative or family member than on the person himself or herself when he or she needed it most while still alive. Some use such an occasion to show-off their wealth and economic capabilities while there are others who came with insignificant contributions and expect to return with a lot of wealth.

Some see funerals as a feasting ground where the entire family can have free meals for one to two weeks. Hindus, on the contrary, bring cooked food to the family of the deceased because the affected family does not cook during the funeral gathering period.

Muslims bury their dead within 24 hours and do not do the:

1. iTukutukuni ni mate;

2. Veiqaravi, reguregu and Bikabika;

3. Burua and Wasei ni iyau;

4. Vaka bogi va; and

5. Bogidrau and vakataraisulu

At the minimum estimation of 3 deaths per village in a year X by 1000 villages in Fiji (according to iTaukei Affairs Board Fiji has over 1000 villages) X $4000 (estimated average cost per funeral) = over $12 million. This does not include iTaukei deaths in urban centres, and you can do the math.

Imagine the number of things we iTaukei could have built with such funds on a yearly basis taking into consideration that we own over 90 per cent of the land.