Celebrating being Fijian
A group of youngsters have spent the week learning all about Fijian culture, language and life.
More than 30 children, aged between 5 and 14 years old, have learned songs, traditions, legends and Fijian phrases as part of Palmerston North’s Fijian Language Week celebrations.
It was important for younger generations to know about their culture and identity, and for their elders to pass on the knowledge, organiser Mark Ah Koy said.
‘‘It’s necessary for us to pass it on. If we don’t do that, then it dies.’’
On each day of the celebrations, which ran from October 9-14, the children have taken part in storytelling, craft-making, cooking, songs and performances.
Ah Koy said it was great to see how interested the children were to learn about the Fijian way of life, including how houses and boats on the islands were traditionally tied together with magimagi – strong rope made out of coconut fibre.
They heard tales of old Fijian ‘‘heroes’’ who killed whales and kept their teeth.
The teeth were used in symbolic ways, such as gifts to the families of women being wooed by suitors.
The families who possessed whale teeth were seen as wealthy, but only symbolically, Ah Koy said.
They were also hard to get nowadays because of the ban on whaling.
Ah Koy wanted Fijian children to be proud of their identity and aimed to teach them ‘‘no matter where you go in life, that is who you are’’. Jamie Mcintosh, 11, took part in the event.
She learnt songs and how to say her family members’ names in Fijian.
‘‘It’s cool how they took the time out to teach us.’’
Jamie, who is Fijian, said she wanted to continue learning the language in the hope she would one day become fluent.
She also hoped to complete one school term next year in Fiji, she said.
‘‘It’s necessary for us to pass it on. If we don’t do that, then it dies.’’ Mark Ah Koy