Fiji, My Country

My family is origin every(prenominal)y from Fiji which is turn backd of 333 islands. Fiji became a British colony in 1874, and was granted its independence in 1970. For the most part during those 96 years, the British confined Fijians to their hamlets employ a head tax around say it was to preserve handed-d stimulate power and social structures but at least angiotensin-converting enzyme or two tribe argue it was payback for all the English heads that went wanting(p) during the days of rampant cannibalism.The British chose instead to use indentured labourers from its Indian colony to develop major sugar plantations in Fiji. When the British shipped break through at Independence in 1970, they left behind roughly an mate number of Fijian and Indian citizens. These figures confuse since changed in favor of Fijians with post-coup migration.Fiji embodies everything the tap of the South Seas is supposed to with laidback maritime charm, a warm, tropical climate, friendly peopl e, foreign fruit and vegetables, and strange yet harmless creatures. Yet it also holds its feature South Seas mysteries and can be a bit of a sustain sometimes.Fiji sunset Three Loose CoconutsHere you allow find people who brace helped propel Fiji tourism to international fame as the friendliest destination in the world. Yet, 37 years since Independence, Fiji also has under its belt four gird takeovers of Government and three Constitutions promulgated in 1970, 1990 and 1997.Today Fiji is a multi- heathen unsophisticated with its citizens including Fijians and people of Indian, Chinese, Pacific Islander and European ethnicity. This has helped Fiji change by reversal a cultural melting pot of sorts in the South Pacific (and allows for a straightlaced smorgasbord at parties).Colonial legacies continue though English is sleek over the official language. People drive their vehicles on the left-hand side of the road. The funds is the Fiji Dollar. And sugar continues to be a ma instay of the economy surpassed only by tourism these days.But I show you the geographical location of Fiji so that you would drop a fair idea where this country is. It is located on the 180 degrees Meridian Line, where the new day begins. People will baulk on an island in Fiji known as Taveuni and a straight wrinkle is drawn and where you can stand on one side of it and say, that you ar in the present or future i.e. either today or tomorrow and yesterday and today.But let me show you exactly where my village is located on the small island known as Nairai in the Lomaiviti Province. The long-range tell for my island is known as Nairairainimarama or in English the island of beautiful women. Lomaiviti Province means the Central Province or Centre of Fiji.Fiji is a multiracial country rich with cultures and traditions and the indigenous people are Fijians who comprise of about 60% of the population and Indians with 40% whilst early(a) minorities include Chinese and other(a) Asi ans, Europeans, Americans, Australians and many others.Fijians like may other ethnic themes have their own cultures and traditions with which they are identified as a group of people. Our traditionalistic system is such that is similar to the people of Israel as we have Chiefs or Leaders or Kings, then 2 sets of warriors, those who stand guard outback(a) any Kings residence and another group of warriors which is only allowed to interact with the capitulum and allowed in the house. Then we have the Priests or Bete who offer advices and representatives who interact with others on behalf of the Chiefs/Kings and they send out messages of any meetings or events to other villages. Also thither are those people who are known as commoners who execute other tasks like farming and fishermen known as Gonedau who go out sport look for for the Chiefs and his family. But the Chiefs and his family do not eat the same food as his warriors or bati. So when a Fijian is born he or she is born wit h his roles and responsibilities and that cannot be changed unlike other systems in the world.My FamilyMy family originally hails from one of the in general islands in Fiji where many great chiefs and leaders come from. The name of the island is Bau. My ancestors were one of the few chiefs that left Bau Island for Nairai Island in the Lomaiviti Province in the sixteenth century. So our family members as from a chiefly background are leaders or chiefs having huge responsibilities to lead the people and serve them well. But to become a good leader one has to accept to learn and be educated because leadership is something that has characteristics or skills that must be learned and practiced. sensation must be seen as a dictator but have qualities to listen, control, speak and command the keep of his people.Our Fijian culture could be seen by some to be very complex because of the traditional values and beliefs it is link with. To illustrate from the day a child is born, and within a chiefly system, the child will not be laid on do it for four days and four nights. The mother will be unplowed with the child under the supervision of old women in the village and will not be allowed to work as food will be gathered by others. A feast will later quest for where relatives will gather to celebrate the birth of the child. At an early age, a boy will be circumcised and a feast will again be organized on the fourth night and even when he first goes out to the sea, the family will prepare mats and other things for him when he returns from fishing in the sea. For a girl or a boy busy in a traditional dance for the first time he or she would be presented with gifts. Even when someone in the family travels abroad he or she will be hosted to a feast by relatives. at that place are things that we use for almost all traditional occasions or events or customs. These are whales tooth or known as tabua in Fijian and kavakava which is a derived from a kind of plant. The whale s tooth has been a medium of supersede in the outdoor(a) until today and it is utilise for consultations and many other things including pursuit support or reconciliation for a fight that had occurred. Also it is used by families to seek the approval of another family or families for a unfledged woman to marry a progeny man. Usually, a total of not less than 10 whales tooth should be presented by the young mans family or relatives to the young womans family or relatives. There a number of processes and many activities that must be performed traditionally to complete the establishment of a new family.However, people in the village as having different responsibilities and duties are expected to perform their own during the whole process. Even the passing of a chief or anyone requires the exhibit of tabua and kava. Kava is used for discussions or meetings as well as a means of seeking approval for one or a group to entry into another village or family home. It is a sign of resp ect and acknowledgement. However, kava has been used in developed countries to produce depression tablets and other products that enhance performance too. Fiji has been exporting kava to Europe in the past and USA and other countries in the world. In Fiji and other Pacific Islands kava is common and used but has been abused for over consumption and takes away the real purpose for kava use.A child born in a chiefly village will be taught to do all the traditional presentations during all traditional ceremonies and know his role. For this reason, I will have to learn from my father and relatives of all the roles that I am obliged to perform whenever needed.I have shown below my family tree to help you gain some information on my family background.