Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE FIJIAN MEKE
One element of Fijian life that seems to have changed little since the 1800s is the
meke
, a
performing art of dance and song. Legends and tales have been passed down the genera-
tions through meke and it remains Fiji's most prominent form of artistic expression.
Traditionally, music was created only by chanting and rhythmic clapping, often with the
addition of a
lali
(hollowed wood) drum hit with bamboo sticks. More recently the guitar
and ukelele have been introduced. Mekes are generally performed by male-only or female-
only groups, although a modern introduction, the
vakamalolo
, combines the two.
At formal mekes, men may perform club and spear dances and the women perform fan
dances. In village mekes, the practice of
fakawela
involves presenting the dancers with a
gift in appreciation of their performance, often fine cloth or fabric. At times of weddings
or other celebrations bringing two parties together, this usually involves encircling the dan-
cers with long rolls of cloth. Otherwise money is collected as they perform.
SHOPPING
Nadi has a decent selection of
shops
and its department stores are handy for stocking
elec-
tronic goods
such as memory cards for digital cameras. General shopping hours are from
8.30am to 5.30pm weekdays, and 8.30am to 1pm on Saturday. Most shops at the open-air
Port Denarau shopping centre are open daily including Sundays from 7am to 7pm, closing at
9pm on Friday and Saturday.
CRAFTS AND JEWELLERY
When looking at craft items, be aware that war clubs, printed designs on
masi
(bark cloth),
tanoa
drinking bowls and priest dishes are authentic Fijian designs, while face masks are
simply tourist gimmicks and mostly imported from Asia.
tractive little strip of stalls is the place to pick up reasonably priced wooden carvings, woven
baskets and sarongs.
Mon-Sat 8am-5pm.
Jack's
Queens Rd, Downtown 670 0744,
jacksfiji.com
;
map
.
Dependable department
store which sells Fijian crafts in a faux-rustic setting. Good-quality workmanship, and they
will pack and post worldwide.
Mon-Sat 8am-5.30pm, Sun 9am-4.30pm.
Tappoo
Queens Rd, Downtown 670 1022,
tappoo.com.fj
;
map
.
Department store that's
a good source of black and multi-hued pearls. These are harvested at several places in Fiji
and make fine necklaces and earrings, but quality and prices vary immensely: the cheapest
disfigured pearls cost as little as F$20; perfect ones - opaque, smooth and of a deep colour
