Daily Life In Ono-i-Lau, Fiji 50 Years Ago : Meke

Showing posts with label Meke. Show all posts

Dances Of The South Pacific.

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men crouch in meke. MEK-212

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Men Ready For Meke

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young men practice for a dance. MEK-203

Young Men Practice For A Meke

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Dance practice. MEK-205

Rohuahua Meke

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Special meke. MEK-204

Men Practice For A Meke

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Several generations of Ono men work on their meke moves. MEK-207

Ono-i-Lau Men In Dramatic Meke

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men dancing in meke. MEK-42

Search Terms: Sticks, pandanus, leis, men, trees, bure, Fiji, Island culture

Traditional Costume For A Lau Dance

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Preparing for a meke. MEK-125

Photo of Noa Yavala

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Practicing For A Meke In Ono-i-Lau

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young boy watches on the sidelines as men practice for a meke. MEK-72

Bonds Of Culture & Friendship

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji

Two men prepare for the meke. MEK-126

Background

Ono-i-Lau is, by far, the remotest community in Fiji. There are six tiny islands within the reef at Ono-i-Lau. On Onolevu, the largest island, there are three villages: Nukuni, Lovoni and Matokana. There's a fourth village, Doi, on another island. These photos were all taken on Onolevu.

From 1970 to 1972, Ono was reached by either copra boat or a larger boat, the Uluilakeba. Boats came very rarely, every few months, bringing mail and goods for the store, and taking back copra and other items, along with passengers. Tragically, the Uluilakeba sank in a storm, with Ono people on board, in December, 1973. The ship went down only a year after the last of these photographs was taken.

Although sugar, salt, tea, and other basic items entered the island through the store, much of what people ate came from the island itself: Shellfish, fish, octopus, land crabs, bananas, leafy vegetables, coconut, root crops, breadfruit… and, during special times, pork, chicken and beef.

In the early 1970's, copra was the cash crop. Many residents were Methodists, and attended the Methodist church. Onolevu District School, which ended in Class 8, had a large number of students. In October, 1970, Fiji gained independence from Great Britain.

Everyone in Ono walked everywhere; there were no vehicles. Sometimes older boys rode the family horses. All boats were classic takias, or outrigger canoes, in the Fijian tradition.

Fiji's indigenous people come from two different roots. Western Fiji is Melanesian. The islands in the eastern, or Lau group, are Polynesian. In some ways, Ono is almost Tongan. Its art, the physical appearance of its people, and even the language all tend toward the Polynesian.

For example, the Fijian "v" was not used in Ono. It was replaced by the very Polynesian "p." In Western Fiji, that most basic of foods, the pig, is known as "vuaka." But, in Ono, a pig is a "puaka."

About These Photos

When we went to Ono 50 years ago, we were very young and just married. The people of Onolevu taught us many things. We hope this portrait of local life reveals the warmth, capabilities, dignity and confidence that we saw in the people of Ono. We think these photos of everyday life show the lessons we learned:

1. Working together is important.

2. Division of labour gets the job done.

3. Make time for yourself, your family, and your community.

4. Men, women and children all have equal value.

5. Respect tradition.

Linda & Jeremy Weld

Peace Corps Volunteers, Fiji IV

Onolevu District School

Sitiveni Gaunavinaka, Headmaster

Dances Of The South Pacific.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMen crouch in meke. MEK-212

Ono-i-Lau, FijiYoung men practice for a dance. MEK-203

Ono-i-Lau, FijiDance practice. MEK-205

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSpecial meke. MEK-204

Ono-i-Lau, FijiSeveral generations of Ono men work on their meke moves. MEK-207

Ono-i-Lau, FijiMen dancing in meke. MEK-42

Search Terms: Sticks, pandanus, leis, men, trees, bure, Fiji, Island culture

Ono-i-Lau, FijiPreparing for a meke. MEK-125

Photo of Noa Yavala

Copyright © 1970-2019, Northcountry Communications, Inc. These photos were taken on Ono-i-Lau by LInda Weld. All rights reserved. Photos & stories cannot be used without written permission. Contact Linda by email.

Ono-i-Lau, FijiYoung boy watches on the sidelines as men practice for a meke. MEK-72

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji

Two men prepare for the meke. MEK-126

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men crouch in meke. MEK-212

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young men practice for a dance. MEK-203

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Dance practice. MEK-205

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Special meke. MEK-204

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Several generations of Ono men work on their meke moves. MEK-207

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Men dancing in meke. MEK-42

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Preparing for a meke. MEK-125

Ono-i-Lau, Fiji
Young boy watches on the sidelines as men practice for a meke. MEK-72