Documentary wins 2nd prize in film festival
NABULI, a Fijian documentary which took second prize in a West Germany film festival in early 1988, radiated an appeal that not only captivated foreigners but also locals as well.
This great achievement of the preservation of Fijian culture and tradition was reported by The Fiji Times on Wednesday, October 19, that same year.
It gave Fijians a lot to think about. The lure of bright lights, an inevitable product of urbanisation, as against the seemingly unattractive quiet village life, posed a serious threat for Fijians in their battles in keeping their identity.
Economic consideration overrode other factors even to the extent that the tradition and culture were bypassed.
The Ombudsman, Ro Jone Mataitini, a Rewa chief also, recognised the problem when he spoke at the premiere showing of the Nabuli at the Raiwaqa cinema.
“In our own country we are witnessing a drift of young people away from their traditional ‘koro’ to the large cities and towns where there are not only bright lights and a faster way of life, but there is also work,” he said.
“As a result of their being mixed in far larger communities than was the case, our young people are losing their identity.
“They may know they are from Lau or Cakaudrove, but many of them have not been to their villages.
“They do not know the names of their great grandfathers, let alone their tribal past.
“As a result, we have growing up in our midst an increasing number of young people whose only allegiance is to the gang with whom they can run.
“They have no respect for anyone and anything, they have no sense of pride and they live only for the immediate present. “I see this too often as Ombudsman. “The tattoo, the blue denim jeans and loudly emblazoned T-shirts are the caste marks of our rootless generation.”
Nabuli aimed to help reverse the trend and restore pride in a culture that meant so much to Fijians.
The movie traced the roots of the Nabuli people from the Rewa Delta.
The film opened with a dramatic long shot of the four main actors, Ratu Manoa Rasigatale (who initiated the project), Ratu Kini Tuivonovono ( a chief from the village), Ledua Tuivaga (the only female) and Ratu Kini Tuivonovono Jr wading ashore.
According to the legend, the Fijians came in large African canoes and made their way inland until they reached the interior of Viti Levu.
They worshipped gods and made their unique culture and traditions.
Ratu Manoa and his group moved to look for a safer place to settle where they reached the Rewa Delta and chose a site where Nabuli Village is still situated today.
Firewalking and other rituals were portrayed in a dramatic fashion by magnificent photography.
In their new environment, members of the Nabuli clan learned to exploit the resources of nature.
Later came the wars, which were retold around the fireplace at night by village elders.
As the community evolved, it developed a structured society where ranks and responsibilities were clearly spelt.
This gave way to peace and order in the village, but social problems began to emerge after the first contact with Europeans.
The problems became more complicated as the people began to grapple with the adverse effects of the winds of change.
Descendants of the Nabuli clan were involved in various economic activities, in hospitals, in factories, at the wharf and in the hotel industry.
In their quest to maintain their culture and heritage, they got together to build a meeting house, which was the central focus of the film.
The village life revolved around the meeting house, where successes and achievements were celebrated and plans for future developments were made.
Despite economic constraints, the villagers sacrificed their time, energy and money to get together in an exemplary spirit of co-operation.
The film was produced and directed by Western German Ellen Umlauf; the documentary was and still is a must for cinemagoers ... and of course for students of Fijian culture and more practical-minded types who may have a thing or two to learn from the people from Nabuli, and to motivate people to be socially aware and to have pride in their culture and traditions.