Fiji

Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti Republic of the Fiji Islands
Motto: Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui (English: Fear God and honour the Queen)
Anthem: God Bless Fiji
Capital (and largest city)		Suva 18°10′S 178°27′E
Official languages		English, Bau Fijian, and Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu)
Government		Republic
Independence
Area
-	Total	18,270 km² (151st) 7,054 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	848,000 (156th)
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$5.398 billion (155th)
-	Per capita	$6,000 (2005 est.) (93rd)
Currency		Fijian dollar (FJD)
Time zone		(UTC+12)
Internet TLD		.fj
Calling code		+679
† - Recognised by Great Council of Chiefs, not repudiated

Fiji, officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited; in addition, there are 522 islets. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87 percent of the total population. The name Fiji is the old Tongan word for the islands, which is in turn derived from the Fijian language name Viti.

Geography

Fiji is a group of volcanic islands in the South Pacific Ocean, lying about 4450km southwest of Hawaii, and 1770km north of New Zealand. Of the 322 islands and 522 smaller islets making up the archipelago, about 106 are permanently inhabited. Viti Levu, the largest island, covers about 57 percent of the nation's land area, hosts the two official cities, the capital Suva, and Lautoka) and most other major towns, such as Ba, Nasinu, and Nadi (the site of the international airport), and contains some 69 percent of the population. Vanua Levu, 64km to the north of Viti Levu, covers just over 30 percent of the land area and is home to some 15 percent of the population. Its main towns are Labasa and Savusavu.

Both islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1300 metres rising abruptly from the shore, and covered with tropical forests. Heavy rains (up to 304cm) fall on the windward (southeastern) side, covering these sections of the islands with dense tropical forest. Lowlands on the western portions of each of the main islands are sheltered by the mountains and have a well-marked dry season favorable to crops such as sugarcane.

Other islands and island groups, which cover just 2.5 percent of the land area but house some 16 percent of the population, include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Islands (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Islands (to the north of the Mamanucas), which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Islands. The only major town on any of the smaller islands is Levuka, Fiji's old capital, on the island of Ovalau. Rotuma, some 500km north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji.

More than half of Fiji's population lives on the island coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centers. The interior is sparsely populated due to its rough terrain.

The total land area is 18,270 square kilometres, which is slightly smaller than New Jersey. It has a tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation. The terrain is mostly mountains of volcanic origin. The lowest point is the Pacific Ocean, and the highest point, Tomanivi, at 1324 metres.

Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore petroleum oil potential, and hydropower. Ten percent of land is arable land, four percent is permanent crops, 10 percent permanent pastures, and 65 percent are forests and woodland.

Cyclonic storms can occur from November to January. Environmental issues facing Fiji are deforestation and soil erosion.

File:Fj-map.png

Map of Fiji

Fiji's location in Oceanea

File:PIA03411 Republic of Fiji-NASA.jpg

Fiji, MISR image NASA. [1]

History

Levuka, 1842

The first inhabitants of Fiji arrived from South East Asia long before contact with European explorers in the 17th century. In 1500 B.C.E., Fiji was settled by Polynesian seafarers. From 500 B.C.E., Melanesian seafarers reached Fiji and intermarried with the Polynesian inhabitants, giving rise to the modern Fijian people.

It is documented] that Fiji was visited by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in an attempt to find the Great Southern Continent in 1643. In 1774, British explorer Captain James Cook visited Vatoa in the southern Lau archipelago.

It was not until 1822 that permanent European settlement began at Levuka, Fiji's first modern town, and the first Christian missionaries from Tahiti arrived in southern Lau.

In 1871, the Kingdom of Fiji was established as a constitutional monarchy, with Cakobau as King but with real power in the hands of a Cabinet and Legislature dominated by settlers from Australia. The islands came under British control as a colony in 1874. In 1876, the Great Council of Chiefs was established.

In May, 1879, 463 indentured labourers arrived from India - the first of some 61,000 to come over the ensuing 37 years. In 1881, the first large sugar mill was built at Nausori.

The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 killed 14 percent of the Fiji population within sixteen days).

Wealthy Indians were enfranchised for the first time in 1929, when Indian representation in the Legislative Council was made elective. Indigenous Fijians and women were enfranchised in 1963. Nadi Airport wasbuilt as an Allied air base in 1939.

Responsible government was instituted in 1967. Ratu Kamisese Mara was appointed first Chief Minister. Fiji was granted independence in 1970. Ratu Mara's Fijian Alliance Party won the first post-independence election in 1972. In 1973, the sugar industry was nationalized.

A constitutional crisis erupted in 1977 in which Governor-General Ratu Sir George Cakobau overturned the March election results following the failure of the winning National Federation Party to put together a government. A further election, held in September of that year to resolve the impasse, resulted in a landslide for the Alliance Party.

The Fiji Labour Party won the election of 1987. Timoci Bavadra became Prime Minister for a month, until, on May 14, Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka carried out a coup, followed by a second coup on September 25 to consolidate the gains of the first. On October 7, Rabuka proclaimed a republic, severing the 113-year link to the British Monarchy. Fiji was expelled from the Commonwealth of Nations. On December 5 of that year, Rabuka appointed Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau as Fiji's first President.

A 1990 constitution guaranteed ethnic Fijian control, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. After the 1992 elections, held under the new constitution, Rabuka became Prime Minister. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by Mahendra Chaudhry, an Indo-Fijian. A year later, this was deposed in a coup led by George Speight, a hardline Fijian nationalist. Fiji's membership of the Commonwealth of Nations was suspended due to the anti-democratic activities connected with the 2000 coup. Democracy was restored towards the end of 2000, and Laisenia Qarase, who had led an interim government in the meantime, was elected Prime Minister. Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth in 2001.

For a country of its size, Fiji has exceptionally capable armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.

Politics

Politics of Fiji takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Fiji. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Fiji is divided into four parts, called divisions: Central Division, (Suva; Northern Division, (Labasa); Eastern Division, (Levuka); and Western Division, (Lautoka).

These divisions are further subdivided into fourteen provinces. Additionally, the island of Rotuma, north of the main archipelago, has the status of a dependency. It is officially included in the Eastern Division for statistical purposes, but administratively has a degree of internal autonomy.

Municipal governments, with city and town touncils presided over by mayors, have been established in Suva, Lautoka, and 10 other towns.

Economy

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 70s but stagnated in the early 1980s. The coups of 1987 caused further contraction. Economic liberalisation in the years following the coup created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty of land tenure in the sugar industry. The expiration of leases for sugar cane farmers (along with reduced farm and factory efficiency) has led to a decline in sugar production despite a subsidised price. Subsidies for sugar have been provided by the EU and Fiji has been the second largest beneficiary after Mauritius.

Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth. Sugar exports and a rapidly growing tourist industry—with 430,800 tourists in 2003 and increasing in the subsequent years —are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact on the economy, which shrank by 2.8 percent in 2000 and grew by only 1 percent in 2001. The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels again during 2002, which has since resulted in a modest economic recovery. This recovery continued into 2004 but grew by 1.7 percent in 2005 and is projected to grow by 2.0 percent in 2006. Although inflation is low, the policy indicator rate of the Reserve Bank of Fiji was raised by 1 percent to 3.25 percent in February 2006 due to fears of excessive consumption financed by debt. Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment for exports. However, there has been a housing boom from declining commercial mortgage rates.

Until recently, the tallest building in Fiji was the 14-story Reserve Bank of Fiji Building in Suva, which opened in 1984. As of November 2005, the 17 story Suva Central commercial center is now the tallest building in Fiji.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Fiji

Ethnic Groups

The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, a people of mixed Polynesian and Melanesian ancestry (54.3%), and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century. The percentage of the population of Indian descent has declined significantly over the last two decades because of emigration. About 1.2 % are Rotuman—natives of Rotuma Island, whose culture has more in common with countries such as Tonga or Samoa than with the rest of Fiji. There are also small, but economically significant, groups of Europeans, Chinese, and other minorities. Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The level of tension varies between different regions of the country.

Language

Three official languages are prescribed by the constitution: English, which was introduced by the former British colonial rulers, Bau Fijian, spoken by ethnic Fijians, and Hindustani, the main language spoken by Indo-Fijians. Citizens of Fiji have the constitutional right to communicate with any government agency in any of the official languages, with an interpreter to be supplied on request.

The use of English is one of the most enduring legacies of almost a century of British rule. Widely spoken by both ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians, English is the main medium of communication between the two communities, as well as with the outside world. It is the language in which the government conducts most of its business, and is the main language of education, commerce, and the courts.

Fijian belongs to the Austronesian family of languages. Fijian proper is closely related to the Polynesian languages, such as Tongan. There are many dialects, but the official standard is the speech of Bau, the most politically and militarily powerful of the many indigenous kingdoms of the 19th Century.

"Hindustani" is considered an umbrella term in India for the standard languages Hindi (preferred by Hindus) and Urdu (preferred by Muslims), as well as many closely related tongues that are sometimes considered separate languages. Fijian Hindustani descends from one of the eastern forms of Hindustani, called Awadhi. It has developed some unique features that differentiate it from the Awadhi spoken on the Indian subcontinent, although not to the extent of hindering mutual understanding. It is spoken by nearly the entire Indo-Fijian community regardless of ancestry, except for a few elders.

In addition to the three official languages, several other languages are spoken. On the island of Rotuma, Rotuman is used; this is more closely related to the Polynesian languages than to Fijian. Some Fijian dialects, especially in the west of the country, differ markedly from the official Bau standard, and would be considered separate languages if they had a codified grammar or a literary tradition. Among the Indo-Fijian community, there is a small Gujarati-speaking community, and a few older Indo-Fijians still speak Telugu and Tamil, with smaller numbers of Bihari, Bengali, and others.

In the Fijian alphabet, some of the letters have unusual values. For one, the "c" is a voiced "th" sound, [ð]. (For example, the name of Fiji-born New Zealand rugby player Joe Rokocoko is often mis-pronounced. The correct pronunciation is IPA: [rɒkɒˈðɒkɒ].) Another difference is that the letters "b" and "d" are always pronounced with a nasal before them, [mb, nd], even at the beginning of a word. The "q" is pronounced like a "g" with a nasal "ng" before it, [ŋg] as in the word "finger", while the "g" is pronounced like the "ng" of the word "singer", [ŋ].

Religion

Religion is one of the faultlines between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, with the former overwhelmingly Christian (99.2 % at the 1996 census), and the latter mostly Hindu (76.7 %) or Muslim (15.9 %).

The largest Christian denomination is the Methodist Church. With 36.2 % of the total population (including almost two-thirds of ethnic Fijians), its share of the population is higher in Fiji than in any other nation. Roman Catholics (8.9 %), the Assemblies of God (4 %), and Seventh-day Adventists (2.9 %) are also significant. These and other denominations also have small numbers of Indo-Fijian members; Christians of all kinds comprise 6.1 % of the Indo-Fijian population.

Hindus belong mostly to the Sanatan sect (74.3 % of all Hindus) or else are unspecified (22 %). The small Arya Samaj sect claims the membership of some 3.7 % of all Hindus in Fiji. Muslims are mostly Sunni (59.7 %) or unspecified (36.7 %), with an Ahmadiya minority (3.6 %) regarded as heretical by more orthodox Muslims.

The Sikh religion comprises 0.9 % of the Indo-Fijian population, or 0.4 % of the national population in Fiji. Their ancestors came from the Punjab region of India.

Culture

As a multiracial and multicultural nation, Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian, and European traditions. The main focus of this article is traditions native to Fiji; customs of immigrant cultures are covered more fully in other articles. For the culture of Indo-Fijians, see Culture of India.

Hierarchy

Fijian society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land). A hierarchy of chiefs presides over villages, clans, and tribes. Chiefly positions are hereditary; a deceased chief is invariably followed by a kinsman, though not necessarily his own son. This reflects Polynesian influence: in most other Melanesian societies, chiefs are appointed on merit.

The largest social unit for Fijians is the Yavusa, defined by historian R.A. Derrick as the "direct agnate descendants of a single kalou-vu" (deified ancestor), who is supposed to arrived with the legendary Lutunasobasoba migration. The Yavusa, therefore, are the descendants of a single original member of the migration. Chiefly succession was from older brother to younger brother, after the death of their father. When the youngest brother died, the eldest son of the eldest brother became chief. This tradition still influences Fijian society today, though less rigidly: there is more of a tendency nowadays towards primogeniture.

Each brother in the family then formed his own branch of the yavusa, called the Mataqali. Each mataqali became the custodian of a specific task. A fully developed Yavusa has several mataqali:

• Turaga : This mataqali descends from the original ancestor through primogeniture - inheritance of the eldest son in each succeeding generation. The chief of a village is always chosen from the Turaga mataqali.
• Sauturaga : These are next in rank to the chiefs, support him, and enforce his commands.
• Mata ni vanua : These form the official heralds of the village. They are also in charge of ceremonial functions.
• Bete : This was the traditional priestly class. The kalou-vu was believed to speak through the Bete.
• Bati : This mataqali forms the traditional warrior class.

The mataqali are subdivided into Tokatoka, each comprising closely related families.

Several Yavusa comprise a village, several of which form a district. The British colonial rulers amalgamated the districts into Yasana, or Provinces. The districts also form three Matanitu, or Confederacies. These are often said to be agglomerations of provinces, but as the latter were a colonial imposition, the boundaries do not coincide exactly, and the Provinces of Ba and Ra are each split between two Confederacies. The Kubuna Confederacy covers Tailevu, Bau, and Verata, on the south east side of the main island of Viti Levu. This Confederacy is traditionally considered to be the most senior. The other two are Burebasaga (covering the rest of Viti Levu), and Tovata, covering Vanua Levu, the Lau Islands, and the Lomaiviti archipelago. Despite its isolation and relatively small size, Tovata has been politically dominant since Fiji gained its independence in 1970.

Music and dancing

• See main article: Music of Fiji

An indigenous art form is the Meke, which may incorporate the seasea (women's fan dance) or a make wesi (men's spear dance). It is usually a narrative of an important event such as a war, a chiefly installation, or even a scandal. Some mekes are generations old, and form an important part of Fiji's oral history. In olden times, the meke was considered to be an oracle from the gods, and the Dau ni vucu, or composer, would often go into a trance before a performance. Others are modern, composed for a particular event, much as a poet laureate might write a poem to celebrate an event in a Western country.

Each district of Fiji has its own form of meke, performed in the local dialect.

Costume

The traditional attire was loin cloths for men and grass skirts for women. Skirts were short for single women, and long for married women, with girls wearing virgin locks before marriage. Most had the lower parts of their bodies decorated with tattoos. Chiefs dressed more elaborately.

Modern Fiji's national dress is the sulu, which resembles a skirt. It is commonly worn by both men and women. Many are elaborately decorated with patterns and designs. Many men, especially in urban areas, also have sulus tailored as part of their suit. Many will wear a shirt with a western-style collar, tie, and jacket, with a matching sulu and sandals. Even the military uniforms have incorporated the sulu as part of their ceremonial dress. Trousers are rarely worn by indigenous Fijian men.

Women usually wear a multi-layered Tapa cloth on formal occasions. A blouse made of cotton, silk, or satin, of often worn on top. On special occasions, women often wear a tapa sheath across the chest, rather than a blouse. On other occasions, women may be dressed in a chamba, also known as a sulu I ra, a sulu with a specially crafted top.

There are many regional variations throughout Fiji. Residents of the village of Dama, in Bua Province, wear finely woven mats called kuta, made from a reed.

Men of chiefly rank usually wear a piece of brown masi around their arms or their waist. Chiefs may also decorate their hair with sandalwood dust.

Yaqona

Kava, known in Fiji as Yaqona, is Fiji's national drink. Traditionally, it was used only in important ceremonies. Nowadays, it is a social beverage. There is a strict protocol associated with yaqona drinking. One should clap once, clasping the hands, take the cup, and drink the yaqona in a single mouthful, before returning the cup to the bearer, clapping three times, and saying the word maca (pronounced: maÞa).

Arts and Craft

Fiji's arts and crafts reflect local adaptations of their Polynesian and Melanesian heritage. By tradition, the men's and women's crafts are separate.

Women's crafts

The village of Naloto on Kadavu Island is famous for its pottery, the making of which is still governed by strict rituals. Nadroga and Rewa also produce fine pottery. Each region has its own unique style in the making of pottery. Famous present-day potters include Diana from Nadroga, and Taraivini Wati from Rewa.

The making of tapa, or masi, is another craft associated with women. Tapa is made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree and decorated in charcoal with symbolic motifs and various patterns. In modern times, it has become fashionable for a masi to bear the name of the person who made it. Masi are often exchanged as gifts on formal occasions. The island of Vatuelele of the southern coast of Viti Levu is famous for its masi products.

Most Fijian mats are made from the leaves of the pandanus tree. The long process of preparation includes scraping and boiling the leaves, and drying them in the sun. There are different mats used for different occasions, and some are made as gifts for formal occasions such as weddings. Most mats are bordered with highly decorative and brightly coloured wool. One well-known Fijian mat is the kuta, made by women in Vanua Levu, particularly Bua.

Basket weaving also another art that the women do.

Firewalkers of Beqa

The Sawau tribe of Beqa are noted for their ability to walk on white hot stones without being burned. Strict rituals have to be observed before the firewalking ceremony. There is an ancient myth about how an ancestor of the Sawau tribe was given this power by a spirit god in exchange for his life, after the god was captured by the man who was fishing for eels.

Lovo

The lovo is an earth oven - a fire made on in a pit in the ground lined with stones. It closely resembles the hangi of the New Zealand Māori. When the stones are hot, food is buried in the pit and left to cook before being exhumed and eaten. Dishes cooked this way include palusami, parcels of taro leaves saturated with coconut oil, onions, and sometimes tinned meat.

The impact of Christianity

The impact of Christianity in the nineteenth century resulted in certain traditions being proscribed. In the pre-Christian era, human sacrifice was practiced. Men were buried alive to hold the pillars to the house of a chief. Cannibalism was practiced, too: the bodies of enemies slain in battle, or in sacrifice, were piled up and cooked for festivals, such as the installation of chiefs. Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the Bauan warlord who united the disparate tribes of Fiji and proclaimed himself King in 1871, renounced cannibalism on his conversion to Christianity in 1854.

Sport

Rugby union is very popular in Fiji. The highest level of competition is the Colonial Cup. The national team also competes in international tournaments.

See also: Music of Fiji, Festivals in Fiji

Miscellaneous topics

• List of Fiji-related topics
• List of Fijians
• Communications in Fiji
• Transportation in Fiji
• Military of Fiji
• Foreign relations of Fiji

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