Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VASU AND TAUVU
Two important concepts can influence the tribal hierarchy:
vasu
and
tauva
.
Vasu
is a spe-
cial Melanesian privilege held by a nephew over his uncles on the mother's side. The extent
of this privilege is limited by the rank of those concerned but a son born to both a chiefly
mother and father can expect rights over the property of his uncles on the mother's side.
Cakobau famously used this privilege to extend his powerbase from Bau.
The term
tauvu
literally means “sprung from the same spirit” and is the special relation-
ship between two tribes sharing the same totemic god, usually an animal such as a turtle or
shark. Every tribe knows its corresponding
tauvu
around the country even though the actu-
al
vu
, or spirit, may well have been forgotten by the younger generation. The relationship
of the
tauvu
enables free access to food and hospitality between the respective tribes and
once meant allegiance in times of war.
Administration and village law
For administrative purposes, the colonial government divided Fiji into four geographic areas
- Western, Central, Eastern and Northern - made up of fourteen
provinces
, or
yasana
. These
divisions still apply today. Within each province are a number of districts known as
tikina
which share a common pool of amenities such as health centres and schools. Villages are
each expected to elect an administrator or
turaga ni koro
to enforce government rules. It is
the
turaga ni koro
whom visitors should address when first entering a village, and not the
chief, who is considered above such matters.
In most instances,
village law
takes precedence over the law of the land. For example, if a
theft takes place, the suspect's family is advised and expected to punish the wrongdoer and
seek forgiveness for the crime, usually by presenting food to the victim. Should this fail to
resolve the matter, the
tokatoka
are gathered at a formal
yaqona
ceremony at which the in-
dividual is shamed and held accountable. Persistent offenders are dealt with by the leader of
the
mataqali
, who in extreme cases may insist on a public flogging. For serious crimes, for
example drug dealing, murder or rape, the
turaga ni koro
steps in to enforce government law.
Land rights
The issue of
land rights
is central to ethnic Fijian culture and identity. The vast majority (87
percent) of Fiji's land is owned by indigenous Fijians and classed as “native land” under a
tenure system introduced by the British. Clan chiefs distribute land among their members for
building homes or planting gardens for personal use. Should an individual wish to make a
profit from the land, an official
government lease
must be obtained through the Native Land
Trust Board (NLTB). It is from these land leases that the majority of rural Fijians receive an
income to support their traditional lifestyles.