Reviving iTaukei culture
IN a bid to revive indigenous knowledge and values among iTaukei students, the University of the South Pacific’s iTaukei Students Association hosted a weeklong cultural week celebration.
Association president Albert Whippy said the theme of this year’s cultural week was Maroroi ni Vosa vata kei na i Tovo Vaka Vanua
(preservation of the iTaukei language, culture and tradition).
“So throughout the week there was a competition between the 14 provinces where each of the provinces had to be represented by an Adi (female person of distinction),” he said.
“Each night we had different categories where the Adi competed in showcasing cultural practices and traditional attires which were only found in their individual provinces.”
He said the main aim of the week was to create a cultural awareness within iTaukei students attending USP.
“Most of these students are not aware of certain cultural practices or their own dialects so this is important for them to learn this way.
“If we don’t create this sense of awareness our traditional values and customs will continue to die out.”