Fiji BC Episode 1 - Fiji and its Society
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- Welcome to Fiji BC - A 4 part video podcast series where I learn all about what Fiji was like in the days of old by asking a lot of questions just so that I don't have to read.
Our guest is Mr Simione Sevudredre, the Principal Cultural Officer at the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. He'll be taking us on an interesting journey far beyond Fiji's recorded history and into the halls of yore.
In this first episode, we take a somewhat broad overview of the general structure of Fiji's society while learning some interesting facts about what Fiji was like, pre-contact.
A big vinaka vakalevu to Weta Fiji for sponsoring the show with a venue to shoot and Dave Lavaki of First Fighter who provided the video production equipment.
Thumbnail artwork provided by the talented Clarence 'nerdwala' Dass: nerdwala
Follow me on the various socials or subscribe to my newsletter at the link to stay updated: www.tuqota.com/linkvesi
It's true that we are oral people. We tell our story not written. It's about time we as native needs to tell our story and not taking our story from outsiders which will always out of context. And it will always out of context because they're not us. We are very orderly and structured people in terms of our culture. Thank you for this. We have a very rich history and culture. Our forefathers were very wise and civilized back then.
I can testify to what Mr. Sevudredre is sharing with us here is true. I have been given a lot of these folklore or traditions of our taukei from my very own grandmother who was born in the 1900. This was how I learned some of our earlier roles as they were passed down during pre contact or daku ni kuila as commonly known. As I sat there playing Rami before prayer n bedtime with my granny. Then I couldn't comprehend how all the elders will assemble at the Vatanitawake to await the arrival of this deity descending down with only chest n head form.Niw I can fully comprehend with Mr. Sevudredre account.
This just shows how civilised,structured and very sophisticated the Fijians were.
Yes Fijians were gigantic people with superhuman strengths who were members of the Burotu Empire that ruled the Pacific islands from the early BC decades to the 800yrs AD. They were astronomers scientifically known as Lemurians from the east,where the sunrises and sets. Our ancestors were the ones who had the worlds oldest civilization. You can see them on a link written by an Italian born ancient Greek writer. Who wrote that they settled at the back of the Nile river nd brought with them their art of civilization from their motherland nd influenced Egypt to build their civilization then Empires. They came from the direction of the setting Sun. Fiji is where the sunrises and sets. I'll share the link later.
That's why the British colonisers found our Fijian forefathers easier to teach than the Tongans..Because they already had a civilization on their own. When the British colonisers brought their own,they taught our fathers that our civilization was evil but theirs was the proper one.
@@kip4586 I'd argue that a people who went globally around the world teaching others how to become structured is infinitely better than the British coming to everyone saying they're evil. Atleast the gift you guys left behind lasted beyond time, all the british did was destroy the natural world and convince you that you're demonic for not worshipping their queen.
We have to go back to this
I very much appreciate his sharing that the history is in naming. Our language are Sacred! Language alters and is Custom to a lineage. Much love from Hawaii.
Thank you for sharing this content about indigenous Fijian culture and understanding our identity. Especially with the ever so increasing itaukei population that now live abroad and are not strong in the itaukei vernacular. It is hard for us to access this type of information. You are a pioneer in this field.
Vinaka vaka levu.
Beautifully explained. I would buy a book on this. I absolutely loved this podcast and just shedding a light on what Fiji was like as a society. How it functioned and the roles individuals played. Keep up the great work.
It'd be awesome if you had an episode of Warfare, bcoz that was a big part of how the provinces was formed, I'd like to thank you though for doing these episode, I know that through the years Itaukei people will search through youtube find these a valuable resource for understanding their history.
Mr Sevudredre was my teacher back in the late 90s; good to see he has not changed a bit; always flamboyant...
Great work and initiative. A very captivating and informative production. Would be great to also cover topics such as traditional rmarriage rituals, the building of houses (bures) and its rituals, rituals or protocols for receiving and farewelling visitors, the composition of vucu's(chants) and mekes( dances), rituals for deaths and burials and for the new borns etc ...
Bula Michel. There are indeed a lot more interesting topics to cover! Unfortunately as this was a solo production on my part, (and a first time at that) I kept the scope and range of topics to only 4 so that I could manage the production side of things easily. If there is interest later on perhaps we could revisit this. Vinaka.
This was so interesting to listen to. I learnt so much and I can't wait for the next episodes
Thankyou for posting this. I am coming on holiday from England to Fiji this summer and found this a hugely rewarding insight into the cultural origins. Vinaka!
So much to unlearn and learn about our own history and culture. Vinaka Vakalevu
I hope you don't mind if I make a small list of questions that you could ask Mr. Sevudredre in the future if/when possible:
1. Whose role was it to maintain the integrity/accuracy of oral history (myths and legends, ancient history, genealogy, traditional stories etc) in the village and did they follow certain protocols to ensure mistakes were not made, maybe they divided certain stories to certain people to act as a living archives or was it everyone's responsibility to learn it?
2. Did the Bati act as police or enforcers of the law in the village, also did they try to kill or punish people who were disgruntled and wanted to leave?
3. What were some common laws and punishments in Fiji at the time and were there any exceptional/quirky laws in certain provinces.
4. He talked about chiefs being able to be changed on merit, was this similar to the Matei system I've heard about in other Polynesian islands?
5.The Lapita first wave migration came around 1500 BC did the subsequent waves of migration wipe them out or did they just live in small area of the eastern island group around Motiriki?
5.Who were the Pulotu/Burotu and where did they live how big/powerful was their kingdom?
6.Do you believe there were giants in those ancient times?
7.Do you think Degei and other demi gods could be fallen angels/ Annunaki like those in ancient Sumeria?
Those last questions are a bit tongue in cheek just interesting perspectives of reptilian God mythology that can be found all over the world in ancient cultures.
Thankyou for the opportunity to satiate my curious mind, God bless and stay safe.
Bula Will, vinaka for your questions. Currently there isn't any plans to do a follow up, but there has been a lot of interest so we will definitely look into revisiting this show and perhaps doing a continuation should the opportunity arise. Vinaka!
Do you mind if i answer some of your questions...i will try to the best of my ability..
@@daviduate6808 sure please do
Q1..the bete..Q2..two forms of bati..leka which is internal..balavu .external and they each have there own undercover in between for the ensurety of certain practices and how they are dealt with..
Q3...punishment is dealt within..majority of the time they were told to leave the tribe ..exiled ..thats was a c ommon practice..Q5..Burotukula..and other continent were sunk by leka ni nabuli to keep there purity....and yes there giants..
Really appreciate the content and how informal it has been relayed.
Awesome TuMeli and Simi.
Thank you and Mr Simione Sevudredre for explaing the Fiji BC "Viti Makawa"I live in the villge of Naitsiri,and I agree with everything you guys saying.Good job.
Vina'a Tau.
Wow, I always knew we had a system of doing things in the old days but this..... This is the most detailed information on our true history for our peopeles. This detailed video of our people land n culture resolidifies our sovereignty. Vinaka Taganez💯
Vinaka vakalevu for the amazing gift of these discussions. So looking forward to the next podcasts! I hope one of them includes discussion of genders and orientations, and the roles they were prescribed.
Unfortunately we only recorded 4 episodes, mostly because I'm inexperienced in these sort of things and just wanted a small run to make sure I get it right (and production did mess up here and there!) and learn from it. If there is a chance to return I'll definitely make the effort to expand the selection of topics!
@@Tumelituqota You're doing great. Please consider continuing your FJ BC interviews, covering more topics and including more knowledge-keepers like that amazing man you're interviewing. Can you pls add captions with his name. Big fan here :-)
Such a beautiful process, singing to the Tree that will be a home. I think this is done in many Indigenous cultures through out the world.
Truly appreciate this 🙏 thank you!!
Vinaka vakalevu for this suuuuper valuable archive! ❤
Thank you. This is very valuable information and history that we and our future generation should know and be proud of.
We need more of these kind videos because there isnt much on Fiji before the missionaries came
Thank you for this initiative. Looking forward for more production. I-taukei culture is so rich. Love it!
I stumbled on this too late. Grateful to you guys for doing these video series. I agree the hierarchy are different in parts of Fiji. Sau Turaga is the actual chief or paramount chief who appoints the Gone Turaga who represents them and carries out their orders. Otherwise its all the same for there on. Perhaps they work side by side. Status is also recognised by their yavu or foundation of the house. Vinaka vaka levu
This series will always be on TH-cam, so no one is ever too late to discover it :) Vinaka!
My mataqali is known as the Sauturaga ( king maker) when the paramount chief (Tui/king)is buried the head of the Sauturaga steps on the buried body to remove the power(sau) so that it can than be transferred to the successor during the anointment ceremony.The Fijian society is amazingly well structured that every body knows their role and where they belong. Thanks for the interesting conversation .Vinaka
and they called us "savages". 😅
thanks TuMeli for this enlightening piece of history!
I've learnt so much from this podcast. Vinaka saka vakalevu
Wonderful discussions. Very enlightening
The Bauta or taraulu were very significant when the chief was alive. They tendered the chief when sick or invalid and finally perform the internment or burial. Chiefs were naturally also humans and prone to injuries from battles etc that made them weak. Compelling and valiant effort.Thanks.
Totoka Tailevu. The information is empowering us to know our identity as a people. This is the higher vibration that our ancestors are rolling to in that particular period.
Shalom
This is so good! Please have more of this on this channel.
Such a great find! ❤️ Thankful its in English!
Vinaka vakalevu.. Spot on!.
Great yarn🙌🏽 Watching from Western Australia!!
Am so glad I came across this! Thank you!
😂 Loved it. Thank you... Gandalf vs Sauron
Interesting insight that I found very fascinating…..
Love this !!
The Lord of the Rings reference had me, Gandalf and Sauron. Vinaka
Thank you for this.
I feel Melanesians have been in the islands of Fiji forever. The timeline of 2000 years and the lapita people being there is a western twist not giving Fijians credit they deserve.
You are right
@@Rick-jh7di yea because all the technological advances Fiji has and their contribution to pacific culture their contributions are minimized..
Yes, since the clay pots found at sigatoka were radio carbon dated to BC times
@@cerulean739 really?
@@Runitup84 yep
Woow amazing.. sometimes in the back of my mind this English people wrongly said that Fijians were cannabalism.
@3335AO so as other nations...lol
How do you know..
Cannibalism was widely practiced in every country. The British empire used that as an excuse to show their power and how they could overpower any island even a “cannibalistic” people. During that time the UK was starving and people were drinking whiskey to fill their tummy even children
@NAVOSAhighlanders ..Fiji was Truly a cannibalism country..our forefathers were great warriors and powerful people. Its a dark chapter of fijis history.
B.C could also mean how different they wrote the calendar, like backwards or anti clock wise, eg.this year is 5 b.c, next year is 4 b.c on so on.
Wonderful
Just to add on, One of the migration that used to happen in the past is known as "Lesavi" (Exiled or Cast out). Vinaka.
Bula Leba, I have indeed heard stories of people cast out and have gone on to start their own tribes, resulting in a whole new family tree line. Vinaka!
Vinakavakalevu OB Simi Sevudredre na itakitaki mai na Burenisa.
Kemudrau na turaga dua noqu taro. E tukutuku dina ya nio ira na kai Lapita era matai ni tamata ra butuki Viti ni se bera mai o ira na Vuda ?
Ok, no answer no problem. Still waiting!
Io
IRA ga noda qase koya era vatokaj tiko qori me Lapita.Mai Pohnpei Micronesia era Matai ni tawavanua IKEA na soko yni e Viti.Era kunea na wedra ena so nodra tikotiko makawa vatokaj vou nikua me Lapita aged settlement.Ira Koya sema tale tiko kena I talanoa ni Ra a leweni waqa levu EA sokotaka yni kea e rua na veitacinj tuwawa Kei na 17 na tagane k na yalewa Ra usna Yani eso na magnetic stones lai tuvana dua na cakau Voleka I Pohnpei me nodra vanua ni vacaboi soro na veitacinj tuwawa ya vei nodrau Kalou ni teitei se god of Agriculture..Ia vukei rau yni na USA vatu dua na flying dragon se serpent vatokai Mai kea me o Fiti Pul lakk yni e Viti Ka lesu tale Mai Viti ni sa oti nodratou cakacaka levu Mai kea.Era Kaya talega eso Mai Pohnpei ni o IRA nodra qase ko ra vatokai vou nikua me Lapita era lako yni e Sauca Pasifika e Solomoni,Vanuatu se I Viti.Era Sega ni Kai Asia,Kai Asia era qai muri wale yni i kea na 17th-18th century.Ia Maj na West Pohnpei eratou kila tiko dua na I lala kawa ni tamata makawa Mai kea ni Ra Kai Viti na kauta yni na vatu lai tuvani ya nodra delanjcakau,me nodrau kani vacaboi soro na veitacinj tuwawa,bera ni Ra qai tomana me nodra koro vaka ba eda kila nikua me o Nan Madol.Yacana I liu o Sean Nan Leng se o Reef of Heaven(Cakauilagi).Ka veiliutaki ena 4 na century Mai kea.
@@lanietuimabu428 vinaka saka vakalevu na nomuni vakamacala totoka , nai tukuni makawa qo e vakavulici ena vei koronivuli e Viti se se vadewataki tiko ga mai vakagusu mai vei ira noda qase ?
@@MrBurenitu vadewataki ga vagusu ni ra tekivu tawani Nakorovatu qai toki ki na delana o Davetalevu qai toki sobu e batini wai vatokai o Korolevu, bera ni qai ra toki ki Naceva ko sa vatokai me o Uluibau nikua mai Moturiki. Ia na veiyaca bula tu mai Moturiki e vadeitaka saraga na usa vatu a caka ya ki Pohnpei Micronesia lai tara kina o Nan Madol ocean city. Yaca me vataki Nakorovatu(stone village),Korobaba (village built with structural fences),Vatulavelavesa (lifted sacred stones),Vatuwaqa levu (stones loaded on a big boat),Vatuwaqa lailai (stones loaded on a small boat),Delainawaqaibonu (on top of a serpent boat)..And another name came up from Moce islands small canoe is called Bakanawa..That(Rabakanawa) was also an ancestors name from Moturiki who was Roko Mautus right hand man before he was sent to Gau as protector of a chiefly couple frm Verata that went to Kaba peninsula then later to Nukuloa Gau.To the Phillipines,Bakanawa is a dragon..Which stamped the facts about Fiti pul a large serpent or flying dragon that helped those on the large drua canoe by strapped log stones of their ocean city from Moturiki reef on her back.Which is Delainawaqaibonus' confirmation. And another name came up from Moce islands part of Bakanawa (small canoe) is Naivavada..It(Naivavada) is also the name of a hill below Delainawaqaibonu in Uluibau Moturiki. They all like named at the same timeline to commemorate that transportation account from Moturiki Fiji to Pohnpei Micronesia.Ancient Potteries were also found on the location of the Korovatu village on that reef at Moturiki. Qai vayacani e muri na delana mai Uluibau Moturiki me o Nakorovatu,koya sega tiko madaga ni rawa ni dua e curu i lomani qaravatu ya ena kalailai ni kaca ni vatu kainaki ni kena katuba.Delanivatu e cake sega ni dua rawa ni vakoro kina ni qiqo qai sukusukura sega ni flat..Sa macala ga ni ra va Korovatu e delanicakau ya bera ni usani ki Micronesia. Me vaka ni tiko kena i tukuni ni sa ra mai toka e delana i vanua qai ra tirova lesu na veidreyaki ni kui ni daveta e wai,esa bau Davetalevu toka.Era sa qai vayacana wasa2 ya me o Davetalevu kei na delana era tawana toka mai Uluibau Moturiki me o Davetalevu.Koro ya tekivu dua na muana mai Uluibau yaco i ucui Tutuvabola mai Daku i wai..Tiko talega na i talanoa ni a dua na burenicauravou dau tu e delanicakau ya mai Daku vatokai na bure ya me o Naitasi..Vaka me Korovatu vaka ba ga ko lako mai ya i Uluibau lai yaco ya i Daku.
Please discuss in itaukei language
I forgot to mention the Daunivucu. Practitioners of this craft/art remain very much alive in the interior of Viti Levu among the highland people.
Vinaka
👏🏽
Awesome content! :D
Vinka vakalevu nai tuku2 makawa ni noda vanua taukei.
Seems to be a lot of videos about Fiji these days. I wonder why?
How do you mean?
Vinaka vakalevu, totoka vakaoti
Wat is the oldest village in Fiji
According to Fijis widely accepted legend, every humans (Fijians) originated from Vuniivilevu/Vunilagi(pre-flood earth)which used to be located between Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Ovalau. After the flood then they settled the islands between Nakauvadra, Naicobocobo and Ovalau. If you dissect those 2 explanations prior and after the flood. It points directly to Davetalevu Moturiki island..
That was even confirmed by the archaeological findings on Moturiki in 2002. Where the 17000 highest amount of ancient potteries found in the whole Pacific islands were seen on 1 site alone on Naitabale(Naturuku) Moturiki.Thats out of the 89 other sites on that Lomaiviti island. region. From that 17000 potteries, only 92 resembles the so called Lapita potteries found on other sites of Fiji nd the Pacific islands. Also those 92 Lapita potteries of Naitabale Moturiki had covered the 4 migratory patterns which were seen incompleted on other Lapita sites of Fiji. That means they were all settled together on Moturiki in the earlier days. The rest of the 1608 from the 17000 potteries were unmatched because they came from their trades nd businesses overseas..
Get back on that last sentence, theres a 90th ancient site found on Davetalevu(Uluibau, Moturiki) reef. Where their Korovatu magnetic stone fort used to stand from the 1st century after the flood till it was flooded in the 8th century AD. Where it was then dismantled and levitated on a Big Fijian Drua and the log stones levitated on the back of a large sea serpent. Where they were strapped with walai and all shipped to West Katau in NW Pacific. Before they moved on to Pohnpei Micronesia, where they built those stones on their reef. Which was known as Seun Nen Leng(Reef of Heaven - Cakauilagi) nd later as Nan Madol stone city. There are names still lives on Moturiki which commemorated that stone shipment to Micronesia. That was the remnant of the Pulotu(Burotu) Empire which once lead Fiji and the Pacific islands in those early decades..Where they were based when their chosen men spread their civilisation around the Pacific and the whole world. They were the worlds 1st colonisers before anyone else did.
Turaga, Sauturaga, Matanivanua, Bete, Bati, Gonedau, Mataisau.
Before Coups
my cousins name is tumeli, tumeli tuibenau
It's a small world for sure.
A prior planning of Documentary would've been better. It tends to go all over the place and it seemed not edited professionally.
It was just out of interest as he mentioned in the intro kemuni. Thats why its very informal and seems more like a conversation rather than an organised interview. But it was very enlightening for most of us. Perhaps you can do a better one rather than relying on someone else or demeaning someone else's effort.
@@teekay3983 I had to watch it again to see what I meant, I still think we know very little of our history beyond the first Contact and I am not sure what we are hearing here is objective or even analytical enough. I think we forget the social scientist that came with the explorers that have written extensively about indigenous people all over the world. So nothing of this sort is explained here but a shallow attempt to explain our history. So back to your corner Teekay, OK
Totoka vakaoti na nomuni vakamacala
BC = Before Colonialism
Before Christ*
@@yourlocalkvt.. same thing brotha. th-cam.com/video/FsYDQ3_iUBo/w-d-xo.html
@@yourlocalkvt.. ill be happy to share with you a thing or two about history n the bible if you seek truth brotha.
There was no 🇫🇯 in BC 😂
There was no civilisation in the world started from Babel, Summeria nd moved on, without the giants/annunakis from Fiji. Mistakenly assumed by those dna culprits as Africans. Who(Africans) can't even build any large sea bus like the Drua doubled hulled canoes of Fiji to ship those gigantic stone slabs at the base of the pyramids in Egypt, India, China, Cambodia, Bosnia, America, Indonesia, Fiji, Hawaii + large stone works in Rapanui(Moai statues n huge stone walls), Hamo'onga Maui of Tonga, Stone henge of England, Nan Madol of Pohnpei, Stone henge nd hakuyawa huge stone wall of Aotearoa(nz)..etc Which were all done by gigantic Fijian annunakis..
Where & What are the origin story of the Fijian people ? Obviously being of Melanesian decent would there be a closer connection to people of vanuatu and her outer lying islands ? Before Making there way and settling Fiji and connecting with Samoans and Tongan
Fiji was settled in waves, so it's an island of mixed people both Poly/ Mela, Mela/Poly. Fiji culturally, linguistically and the way of life is more Polynesia as well as history, but the skin is Mela which is why Fiji was grouped into Melanesia in the first place by the Palagi's. Fiji is both Polynesian and Melanesian given its mixed heritage as stated and it's peoples history is mainly with Tonga and Samoa but there is none to my knowledge that if Fiji did the same with Melanesia.
Science tells us the blood of the Fijians are 80% Asian on their mothers side and 79% Melanesian on their fathers side. At the crossroad of the pacific Fijian are 1/2 Polynesian and 1/2 Melanesian. Goggle search Fijian mitacondrial dna the site Nature.
Science tells us that Fijians are 80% Asian on their mothers side and 79% Melanesian on their fathers side. Study of the blood in their veins is undeniable. Being at the crossroad of the pacific Fijians are approx 1/2 Polynesian and 1/2 Melanesian. Google search the words: Fijian mitacondrial DNA and read the blood study by the Science website.