'Univesiti Fakafonua 'a Tonga -
Tonga National University
Ko e Mo’oni, Ko e Totonu mo e Tau’ataina - Truth, Justice, Freedom


Vaka i taukei : the Fijian way of life / by Asesela Ravuvu.

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: [Suva] : Institute of Pacific Studies of the University of the South Pacific, 1983.Description: v, 130 pages : illustrations ; 21 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
Other title:
  • Fijian way of life
Subject(s): DDC classification:
Other classification:
  • 73.06
Contents:
1. Some key principles. Male emphasis -- Residence with the husband's group -- Siblings must cooperate -- Kinship ties are very extensive -- Cousins are of two opposed types -- Brother-sister taboo -- Importance of age and seniority -- Sex differences and the division of labour -- Reciprocity.
2. Fijian houses. Every house has a special foundation -- Design follows a traditional pattern -- Rooms without walls -- Sharing the property -- House size and value -- Furniture is simple -- Fire is the symbol of life.
3. Many functions of food. Cooking -- Eating -- Food taboos -- Changing eating habits -- Drinks -- Symbolic use of food -- Preservation and sharing.
4. Life-cycle. Marriage -- Formalising and publicising the union -- Birth -- Naming -- Death -- When death occurs.
5. Vanua. Land -- Physical dimension -- Veikau -- Yavutu -- Qoliqoli -- Social dimensions -- Cultural aspects.
6. World of spirits. Traditional supernaturalism -- Rere -- Supernatural as a means of explanation -- Supernatural as a social device -- Chrisian supernaturalism -- Grading according to piety and status -- Patterns of christianity.
7. Fijian personality and values. Vakaturaga -- Tomorrow will take care of itself -- Physical height is equated with social height -- Greater the spatial distance the stronger the avoidance -- Slow to anger and soon appeased -- Cleanliness is next to godliness -- Exposure.
8. Special Fijian administration. Early post-contact adaptations -- Regulations and requirements -- Levels of consultation -- New framework for rural development -- Development at national level.
Summary: This book aims to help understand some of the main principles on which the Fijian society is organised and how these affect the attitudes and behaviour of the people in their various social, economic and political activities. Much of the discussion is focussed upon the 'traditional' context, that is what the elders regarded as proper. But the changes that have occured are not overlooked and where possible, comparative examples are given.
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Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Status Barcode
Texts - cam Texts - cam TNU, Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities Pasifika Collection PAC 996.11 RAV (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Not for loan FEAH25082583

Includes bibliographical references (page 124) and index.

This book aims to help understand some of the main principles on which the Fijian society is organised and how these affect the attitudes and behaviour of the people in their various social, economic and political activities. Much of the discussion is focussed upon the 'traditional' context, that is what the elders regarded as proper. But the changes that have occured are not overlooked and where possible, comparative examples are given.

1. Some key principles. Male emphasis -- Residence with the husband's group -- Siblings must cooperate -- Kinship ties are very extensive -- Cousins are of two opposed types -- Brother-sister taboo -- Importance of age and seniority -- Sex differences and the division of labour -- Reciprocity.

2. Fijian houses. Every house has a special foundation -- Design follows a traditional pattern -- Rooms without walls -- Sharing the property -- House size and value -- Furniture is simple -- Fire is the symbol of life.

3. Many functions of food. Cooking -- Eating -- Food taboos -- Changing eating habits -- Drinks -- Symbolic use of food -- Preservation and sharing.

4. Life-cycle. Marriage -- Formalising and publicising the union -- Birth -- Naming -- Death -- When death occurs.

5. Vanua. Land -- Physical dimension -- Veikau -- Yavutu -- Qoliqoli -- Social dimensions -- Cultural aspects.

6. World of spirits. Traditional supernaturalism -- Rere -- Supernatural as a means of explanation -- Supernatural as a social device -- Chrisian supernaturalism -- Grading according to piety and status -- Patterns of christianity.

7. Fijian personality and values. Vakaturaga -- Tomorrow will take care of itself -- Physical height is equated with social height -- Greater the spatial distance the stronger the avoidance -- Slow to anger and soon appeased -- Cleanliness is next to godliness -- Exposure.

8. Special Fijian administration. Early post-contact adaptations -- Regulations and requirements -- Levels of consultation -- New framework for rural development -- Development at national level.

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