The Influence of History on Evolving Traditions of Fiji
Vacation resorts, palm palms, and blue ocean may be the first images that come to mind when you hear the name Fiji. The postcard version is that. The true Fiji is far more profound. Every ritual, shared meal, and dance has a lengthy backstory that has been influenced by history. Fijian customs did not emerge spontaneously. History has had a profound impact on the traditions of Fiji for a long time—migration, outside influence, and colonization, all leaving their lasting marks. That’s why the meke isn’t just a performance. It’s like opening a window into the past, where every movement tells part of an old story.
Let’s take a historical tour to observe how each period contributed to the customs that Fijians still follow now to comprehend that.
How it all began
Long before outsiders arrived, the Lapita people came. They crossed huge stretches of ocean in canoes and ended up here in Fiji. They brought pottery, farming, and fishing practices that shaped everyday life. But even more importantly, they brought a way of seeing the world.
For those early groups, the land and the ocean weren’t just resources; they were life itself. Growing yams or taro wasn’t only about filling your stomach—it was part of how their whole culture worked. The sea gave fish, but also spiritual meaning. Everything connected back to what they called the vanua, a word that still carries weight in Fiji today. Vanua is not just “land.” It’s not just about people and land—it stretches to their ancestors too, and even the spirits they believed kept an eye on things.
And since nobody back then was writing books, everything had to be passed along the old way. They carried the rules—how to respect chiefs, how to live together, even how to survive when times got tough. Even today, when a meke is performed, it’s not random. The dance movements are retelling events and lessons from those early times.
First Encounters: Europeans and Missionaries
Back in the 1700s and 1800s, Europeans started showing up. First, it was sailors and traders, and then later on, the missionaries came too. This was a turning point.
Iron tools made farming and construction easier. Guns, unfortunately, made conflicts between tribes more deadly. And then came Christianity. Missionaries introduced a new religion that often clashed with old beliefs.
But here’s the thing: instead of wiping out traditions of Fiji, Christianity in Fiji got woven into them. Villages built churches, yes, but many ceremonies still carried echoes of older practices. For example, hymns became part of Sunday gatherings, but the communal singing carried the same energy as ancient chants. You can still hear it today—deep voices rising in harmony, filling a village with sound.
Colonial Rule: New Layers, New People
In 1874, Fiji was brought under British rule. This period left marks everywhere. Colonial administrators changed governance, while schools run by missions introduced Western education.
However, the entrance of Indian indentured laborers brought about the most significant impact. Thousands arrived to labor on sugarcane plantations between 1879 and 1916. They brought more than just work, but their lives were difficult. They introduced their own festivals, dishes, music, and faith.
Even now, you’ll often find kokoda on the same table as curry and roti, a mix that tells Fiji’s story. This mix tells you everything about history.
Holding On and Letting Go
Colonial powers often tried to “freeze” Fijian culture. They wanted to preserve village structures and chiefly systems in rigid ways. Some traditions of Fiji, like ritual warfare, were pushed aside or slowly faded with time.
But Fijians didn’t let go of everything. Some traditions, especially the yaqona (kava) ceremony, stayed strong. In fact, even colonial officials began to use kava ceremonies when meeting chiefs.
Independence and the Search for Identity
Creating one national identity in Fiji was never simple. Traditions became part of the answer.
On one side, indigenous arts and rituals were brought back as symbols of identity. On the other hand, Diwali and Eid became national occasions, reflecting the contributions of Indo-Fijians.
You see the blending most clearly in celebrations. A school might host both a meke performance and a Diwali program in the same year. A village feast might include both lovo (earth oven cooking) and Indian sweets. History had created a shared rhythm that people continued to play out together.
Modern Fiji: Global but Traditional
In today’s Fiji, you’ll notice something interesting. On the one hand, globalization is pervasive; young people in Nadi and Suva are eating fast food and listening to international music on TikTok. However, customs continue to exist and are evident.
You’ll notice that even kids who grow up in the busy towns don’t really lose the pull of tradition. It sneaks back in. Maybe they show up at a wedding wearing the old style of dress. Maybe they decide to join in a festival, or ask their grandparents to teach them an old chant. It doesn’t vanish just because they’re in the city. If anything, the more the modern world pushes in, the more some people feel like hanging on to what’s theirs.
The Living Legacy
What makes Fiji special is that its traditions are not museum pieces. They are living practices shaped by history at every turn.
- The Lapita settlers laid the first foundation.
- European explorers and missionaries reshaped beliefs.
- British colonial rule and Indian migration added new layers.
- Independence brought a sense of unity through diversity.
You may experience history in real time now if you attend a kava ceremony or sample a variety of regional and Indian cuisine. Every tradition has a tale to tell about mixing, adapting, and persevering.
Fiji’s history is not a thing of the past. It’s in the way people celebrate, cook, dance, and sing. Traditions of Fiji change little with each generation, but the foundation never changes. Fiji is beautiful because history has enhanced Fijian culture rather than destroyed it. The islands provide evidence that customs may change, adapt, and grow while retaining the essence of their forebears.
