Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called for urgent efforts to preserve the history of the country’s Melanesian community, with a focus on data collection and storytelling.
Speaking during the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Melanesian labourers in Suva today, Rabuka highlighted the importance of “the collection of stories of living elders in our community,” noting that these accounts are essential to keeping the community’s legacy alive.
“With technology and platform to exhibit stories and topics of learning in a matter of seconds, it may be the opportune time for us to engage our youth to undertake this task,” Rabuka said. “While we rely on anecdotal evidence, it is more important to have statistical evidence. Undertake your own internal census among community members to ensure that you know your numbers for continuity and development purposes.”
Rabuka also advocated for the integration of Melanesian history into Fiji’s national curriculum, proposing that “your Talanoa included in our education, tools and subjects will ensure that your history becomes central and part of our national history.” This would, he suggested, deepen national appreciation for the Melanesian community’s contributions to Fiji.
Reflecting on the past, Rabuka acknowledged the challenges faced by the first Melanesians brought to Fiji under colonial rule.
“Your ancestors’ legacy is intertwined with Fiji history in every turn,” he said. “Now let us rewrite the story of this journey of unsettling oppression and slavery, one journey of belonging, of unity.
“You need to sit, you need to talk genealogy, you need to talk culture. You need to connect. You need to look out for each other… You need to reminisce the achievements of your forefathers and mothers and build on it to guide you in your progress and betterment of the Fiji Melania community of the future.”
Rabuka encouraged further dialogue and collaboration urging “relevant government machinery, NGOs, religious institutions, private sector community leaders and supporters” to join the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Fiji Melanesian Council in addressing the needs of the Melanesian community.
He also encouraged the formation of youth and women’s groups focused on economic and social projects.
Held at the Suva Foreshore, the event, which also featured floats and dances, was part of a three-day celebration that began yesterday to mark 160 years since the arrival of Melanesian laborers to work on Fiji’s plantations. It brought together descendants from Melanesian communities across Fiji, including Vanua Levu and Levuka.
The celebrations opened yesterday with a seminar that delved into the history, plight, and contributions of the Melanesian laborers and their descendants. The event also featured photo booths set up by the National Archives, showcasing pictures from various Melanesian communities around Fiji, present and past.
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