Traditional iTaukei life and "modern" life
The Fijian population is made up of two main groups: native Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Each of these groups has very strong traditional cultures; here are those of the native Fijians, also known as iTaukei. Traditionally, iTaukei Fijian life revolves around villages, which are run by chiefs. Chiefs are responsible for maintaining harmony in the community and punishing offenders. If you are invited to a traditional Fijian village, you will be asked to bring a gift(sevusevu) for the chief and the village. This will usually be kava, in root or powder form, and you can bring school supplies or food. The sense of community is very strong in Fijian villages, and children can be brought up with the help of the whole village. Village inhabitants are protected from need, as they will normally be assisted by other members of the community. Fijians are generous, like to share and reject materialistic principles. When iTaukei Fijians move to urban areas, there may be some difficulty in adapting to a new, more individualistic dynamic. In traditional Fijian villages, the main habitat has remained the bure, which resembles a wooden hut and is now often reproduced in luxury resorts. The floor of the traditional bure is made of clay and coconut leaves. Most Fijians outside the villages have opted for the more comfortable hard-built homes. As Fiji is a developing country, apart from the chic suburbs of Suva, the larger towns and Pacific Harbour, housing is fairly modest in appearance.
Education and leisure
Education. The education system in Fiji is built around the primary school, which is the first cycle (from ages 6 to 14), the secondary school (the second cycle) and then university. Since 2014, the Ministry of Education has contributed, in addition to free education, to the costs of books and buses for primary and secondary school pupils. Prior to these reforms, due to the poverty affecting part of the Fijian population, access to education was not fully assured and many pupils did not progress to secondary school, some already working. Fiji's very young population explains the high enrolment figures: over 150,000 pupils in the 737 primary schools, 73,200 pupils in the 175 secondary schools. At university level, there are three institutions: Fiji National University, University of South Pacific and University of Fiji.
Sport is a strong social bond in Fiji, and Fijians love to play rugby or soccer and rally behind their national teams. One in ten Fijians belongs to a rugby club, a sign of the population's passion for the sport. Fiji's national rugby sevens team has an excellent international record, even winning Fiji's first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The rugby players are very popular, and some have even become stars in Fiji. Waisale Serevi is very well known and is considered to have been one of the best rugby 7s players of all time. Cricket is also a popular sport in Fiji, particularly among the Indo-Fijian community. The government has emphasized the importance of sport in Fiji by sponsoring a public holiday, National Sports Day, to promote the practice of sport in Fiji.
Traditional ceremonies. The kava ceremony remains a highlight of Fijian social life. Even in town, there will often be evening gatherings to drink a bowl of kava. Kava is not an alcoholic beverage and is reputed to have soothing and anxiolytic benefits, but some Western countries have banned products containing it. You may also have the opportunity to watch a fire-walking demonstration. The fire dance is known as " Vilavilairevo ", which literally translates as "throwing yourself into the oven". Beqa islanders are reputed to be able to walk on fire without danger, a gift passed on to them by the gods. Shows are often organized to celebrate these fire dances. When someone gets burned in Fiji, believers ask a Beqa man to come and heal the wound by putting his hand on the burn so that it heals in better conditions. Another important celebration in Fijian life is the traditional " meke " dance. This is a mixture of song, dance and mime, and very often tells the story of past Fijian wars. Music is also part of Fijian cultural life, and is very varied, ranging from sad songs to say goodbye to very festive music.
Family (marriage, divorce, homosexuality)
Religious marriage remains the norm in Fiji. The legal age for marriage is 18 for both sexes. In principle, there are no longer any arranged marriages, but marriages are very often seen as alliances between families or clans in the broadest sense. Divorce and remarriage are commonplace in Fiji. Intermarriage between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians is quite rare, which contributes to the coexistence of these two groups who have lived side by side for over 150 years, but not really together, without there being any pronounced individual tensions. Marriages between Fijians and foreigners (Europeans, Chinese or other Pacific Islanders) are much more common. Marriage between two people of the same sex is not permitted, and the subject is in the news from time to time. Fiji was the first country in the South Pacific to decriminalize homosexuality in 2010, and the 2013 Constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and choice.
