For the love of native crafts
SENILOLI SOVEA always wanted to do something involving people.
She first worked with the Women’s Interests Office, at the then Young Women Christian Association before taking up a job with the Fiji Visitors Bureau.
According to an article in The Fiji Times on March 3, 1979, it was her interest in Fijian handcraft that moved her to help establish The Cottage Craft Centre and become one of the shareholders.
“Nothing gives me greater pleasure then being here and seeing for myself the quality products brought in from all over Fiji,” Seniloli said.
Seniloli wanted to be at the centre of operation and to feel the reaction of the buyers.
No doubt, Seniloli’s smooth relationship with more than 300 people who brought in consignments was a friendly one.
“It seems most of the women who bring in handcraft, I have known through my previous jobs.”
Born on Kadavu, Seniloli received her primary education at several schools because her Methodist minister father moved to different areas because of his work.
However, she completed her basic education at Adi Cakobau School in Sawani and took a year’s course in home economics at the South Pacific Community Education Training Centre.
“It was here that I was moulded into this kind of thinking — serving the grassroots people.”
At the completion of practical and theoretical training, Seniloli began her career with the Women’s Interest Office.
“I visited numerous women’s clubs in villages, taught them cooking, sewing homecraft and handcrafts.”
After four years, Seniloli joined the YWCA once again doing the same kind of work, running the women’s clubs for another five years.
Then opportunity led her to the Fiji Visitors Bureau special department for handcraft education.
This section of FVB opened because of the many complaints about trash handicraft being sold to tourists in towns and villages.
Before joining the Cottage, Seniloli and Stephanie Odegard, a Peace Corps worker attached to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, toured the islands and villages, gaining a deeper knowledge of traditional masi (tapa) making.
“Masi is one of the best sellers at the Cottage.
“To anybody knowing nothing about masi, it’s all the same.
“There are subtle differences and values attached to masi in every island.”
It was important for Seniloli to make authentic traditional masi available to local and overseas buyers.
“The taunamu, a special type used for weddings, kumi or gatu, are pieces used for wedding and ceremonial costumes, gifts or burial.
“The Soqosoqo Vakamarama Handicraft Centre previously taught and promoted the production of good quality traditional handcrafts but since they have closed, I feel that the Cottage has taken up the role of reviving Fijian handicraft.”
For Seniloli the Cottage sometimes became the living art of past history.
“It was interesting when a lady came recently from Lokia with a water container (dari-tabua) which is used specially by the high born.”
The bulk of the handicraft brought to the Cottage were produced by women.
“In the olden days it seems women spent most of the time in basketry, weaving, masi-making and pottery apart from performing the daily chores. The men were involved in teitei, fishing and war.”
Seniloli married Tawake Sovea in 1973.
In the olden days it seems women spent most of the time in basketry, weaving, masimaking and pottery apart from performing the daily chores. The men were involved in teitei, fishing and war – MRS SENILOLI SOVEA