Coco Talanoa — Pacific Blog / Page 1

In Fiji, like many Pacific Islands, the focus of Christmas has always been the birth of Jesus Christ. For most Fijians, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are primarily about spiritual reflection and church celebrations.

Christmas Eve is often a time when Fijian families attend church services, and Christmas Day is filled with special church skits, singing, and communal meals to honor the birth of Christ. It’s a day that is rooted in religion and devotion, with many people dedicating the entire day to worship and fellowship.

One unique tradition that truly embodies the Fijian sense of unity is the Kalavata (pronounced Colour-vah-tah), a custom where the entire family wears matching outfits made from the same material.

It’s a striking visual representation of the family unit, symbolizing their togetherness and love for one another. This tradition is one of pride and respect, where the family dresses up in bright, colorful fabrics, often with floral or patterned prints, creating a festive and harmonious look for the Christmas celebrations.…more

The Fijian Tradition of Asking for a Maiden's Hand in Marriage

Fiji is known for its beautiful landscapes and culture, particularly when it comes to marriage customs and December to January is particularly a time commonly picked by couples to celebrate in matrimony.

One key tradition before the wedding is how a young man asks for a maiden's hand in marriage. In the song “io” sung by Apakuki Nalawa of the band Inside Out he sings “au na Duguci iko, mo rosi ni nodaru vuvale vou” which summarises the Duguci process so beautifully, “i will come for you, so that you may be the rose in the flowerbed that our new family creates."

The path to marriage in Fiji includes 20 important stages, each with its own meaning. The first stage is called Taibailago, where the young man’s family tells the young woman’s parents that their son is interested in their daughter. This step is crucial as it marks the beginning of the courtship.

As the couple moves through the stages, they experience various important rituals.…more

The tradition of firewalking in Fiji did not always exist. It is believed to have begun a couple of hundred years ago in the small village of Nakarovu on Beqa Island. According to legend, the origins of this power can be traced back to a man named Tuinaiviqalita and the spirit God he caught.

Tuinaiviqalita, who was seeking to gain favor with a village elder, went in search of an eel to present as a gift. While digging near a creek, he captured one of Fiji's spirit gods, known locally as a 'veli', instead of an eel. The 'veli' begged Tuinaiviqalita to let him go, and in exchange, offered him and his descendants the power to control fire. Intrigued by this offer, Tuinaiviqalita followed the 'veli' as it leaped across a pit of scorching hot river stones. To Tuinaiviqalita's amazement, he was able to walk across the fiery stones unharmed, realizing the 'veli' had indeed granted him this extraordinary gift, he let the veli go.…more

In our vibrant tapestry of Fijian culture, few symbols resonate as deeply as the traditional hairdo known as the Buiniga. Proudly worn by both our iTaukei men and women it embodies not only a unique aesthetic but also a history that sets us iTaukeis apart from the rest of the world.

Growing up surrounded by family members adorned with the Buiniga—my mother, grandmother, aunties, and uncles—I have always felt a profound connection deeper than blood to my vuvale.

Straight silky hair was always the portrayed embodiment of beauty and i would be lying if i said I’ve never thought of conforming to society by taming my natural curls. A trip to the supermarket was always met with a list of hair products to rid myself of the rough texturised hair, that I thought for a long time was an embarrassment.

Little by little with every hair straightening product doused on my head it began to wash away the little cultural identity I shared with not only my family, but my people.…more

I remember a famous Fijian folk song titled “Lei Tei Dalo Ko Tamaqu” that we would sing to distressed babies or use as a lullaby to put our kids to sleep.

Knowing little of the dark history the musical notes entailed, it was a tune that most Fijian kids sang their hearts out to. Like how storytelling, music and dance was a form of relaying our history to younger generations, this folk song carried the weight, tears and heartbreak of our ancestors.

A simple song, but broken down opens a new chapter of clarity.

The sad reality of this folk song describes the inhumane capture of our Pacific Islanders, leaving behind their island homes for a life of turmoil on new land.

Evelyn Koi, descendant of Reginald Koi who was brought to Fiji from The Solomon Islands in 1883 through Blackbirding, describes learning about Blackbirding in school without the knowledge that she was a descendant of one of those caught in the captivity.…more

A bold new exhibition, Kau Leka Mei Tahi, is on display at Four Shells Kava Lounge in Auckland, offering a raw, unapologetic glimpse into the world of Selekā, a Tongan art collective that has been pushing boundaries since its inception.

On display until 15th December, Kau Leka Mei Tahi features works by Selekā members and local Tongan youth, continuing the collective’s mission to redefine what it means to be Tongan and creative in a world that often marginalises both.

Kau Leka Mei Tahi: A Celebration of Tongan Youth and Creativity

The Kau Leka Mei Tahi exhibition, which translates to "Children from the Sea," is a testament to Selekā’s ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and artistic expression among Tongan youth. The title of the exhibition reflects the collective’s deep connection to the ocean and the sea as a metaphor for growth, renewal, and self-discovery.

The works on display represent the diverse, dynamic nature of Tongan life, with each piece offering a glimpse into the personal journeys of the artists.…more

Land, Home, Mother
Moana Fresh Gallery - 64 Rosebank Road Avondale
Siliga David Setoga, Esther Mauga F Walters, Kristal.G

Peep a fale palagi, Mangaian chess pieces and a sign symbolising fa’asinomaga at the new Moana Fresh window gallery in the heart of Avondale!

Putting Pasifika creativity at the forefront of its small and perfectly formed gallery shop, Moana Fresh continues to create communities and conversations with these three conceptual works to spark up the talanoa around our ideas of identity. 

The micro exhibition presents visual ideas from 3 very different artists as individual expressions of ‘Land, Home, Mother’, curated by Bonni Tamati who says, 

“Pacific people have always been brilliant knowledge seekers and knowledge holders and through creativity we share our knowledge of the world” 

‘Avondale Village Sign’ by Siliga David Setoga pays homage to the iconic village signs of Samoa - shifting the focus to the ways that the idea of a village is recreated in Aotearoa.…more

As 15 tama’ita’i Samoa took to the stage at Matagialalua Friendship Park last night for Night One of the 2024 Miss Samoa pageant, even the usual slightly voyeuristic ‘sarong’ category was a vehicle for messaging.

The stage of the pageant is now staging a different sort of ‘Queen’ as nearly half the contestants used their original designs and meanings to promote topics like climate change, the manumea survival, coral reef regeneration or put a spotlight on cultural sovereignty.

For Miss Pacific Climate Warriors, Brianna Fruean, the most visible in her activism, choosing to use the pageant as an important speaking platform was always a strategy to target Pacific youth.

Her puletasi was designed by award winning Samoan designer and star of project runway Afa Ah Loo

"My Sarong and Puletasi were no different. The looks not only pointed to lessons but also legacy. I wanted to honour the movements of the past with the Mau and the movement of the present with the climate warriors renewable energy campaign.…more

There are five Pasifika wāhine in the 2024 Y25 (25 young wāhine and irarere under 25 yrs who are fighting for better systems, communities, and worlds)!

The Y25 programme is a celebration of self-identified wāhine and tāhine, 25 years and under, doing incredible things for their communities and world. Get to know them and their incredible work here!

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ANNAFINAU ESETA PONITA TUKUITOGA

Country Music Star / Niuean Language Activist

Niuean-Fijian Annafinau is a rising country music/ bluegrass star who received the Creative New Zealand ‘Arts, Culture and Creativity Award' at a ceremony for the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards at the Beehive in 2022. Annafinau’s music has resonated in spaces across Aotearoa, which was acknowledged in the title she was given as ‘New Zealand Country Music Youth Ambassador’ by the PM.

This bright afine Niue is a testament to the warrior women who raised her. From her beautiful Nan to her incredible Mum, she often says that the strong women in her life shaped her world and that she wouldn't be who she is without them.…more

Pacific peoples are some of the best storytellers in the world. Pre-colonisation oratory storytelling was held in the highest regard because it was through myths and legends we preserved our cultural heritage.

The stories passed from generation to generation taught valuable and important life
lessons, and in some cases, these lessons were essential to our survival.

Before we continue, do you know the difference between a myth and a legend?

Myths are works of fiction created to explain the unexplainable.

Take, for example, the myth of The Creation of Pukapuka. In short, Te Ulu O Te Watu (The Head of the Rock or Pukapuka) came to be when the God Tamayei, who was traveling, grew tired and needed somewhere to rest. From the sea, he summoned Pukapuka, and from within Pukapuka emerged its first man Mataalki. Fun fact Pukapuka is the only island in the Cook Islands whose population story doesn’t include an arrival on a vaka.…more