USP Open Day 2022. Rabi Islanders (Banabans)

Every year, the University of the South Pacific (USP) at its Laucala Bay campus in Suva hosts an annual Open Day where school students from around the country with an interest in furthering their education at the university level visit the USP and are given guided tours. The highlight of the day happens around 2pm with students from various Pacific nations performing dance routines from their respective nation's traditions. Although the performances were still limited after Covid, the students from Rabi Island (Banabans) were captivating. A little bit of history: Banaba, also called Ocean Island, is a small island located 250 miles west of the Gilbert Islands, part of Kiribati. Due to the over-mining of phosphate in Banaba, the British relocated the islanders (known as Banabans) to Rabi Island in the Fiji Island group shortly after World War Two. Their traditional songs and dances often reflect thsi displacement.

[@tewakebokiteon3558]

Mauri!!! I'm so grateful to see that our cultural dance was still preserved by our new generation from the Banaban USP students..thax for the vlogs

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

My pleasure! I’m looking forward to seeing any upcoming performances by these talented dancers.

[@rutavitello4160]

Love you Rambo boningai raomi Tekeraoi god bless

[@pamelaadhin7565]

Hello and thank you for sharing these vlogs ,love it

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

My pleasure, Pamela. Glad you enjoyed them as much as I did when I saw the whole show live. It was such rich entertainment. 😃😃

[@rutavitello4160]

USP bon Ami Ana tanka ni bay Kiribati are Temauri Teraoi ao Tetabemoa god bless

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

Great performance from them!

[@olismaulana2626]

my Love 💘💘💘

[@henrifischer1119]

all having so much fun. Would like to know what they are singing.

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

I remember someone telling me but, honestly, I’ve forgotten! 😂

[@tetekimoken6468]

Woohhh love it

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

Glad you liked it! 😃👍🏽🙌🏽🇫🇯

[@Lagolop]

The girl on the right can really dance!

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

She sure can! 😂

[@Lagolop]

@@ThePaleBlueDot She moves around the stage but I think you know the one I am speaking of.

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

@@Lagolop 😁😆😅

[@user-wn8nj2kj8q]

Are they fijians

[@ThePaleBlueDot]

They are ethnically Micronesian but were displaced to Fiji some time after the Secind World War.

[@MrKtawaka]

Nice but te choir gang riki toutana