Fiji’s cultural identity is an amalgam of its iTaukei indigenous people, Indo-Fijians who arrived during the British colonial era to work on sugarcane farms in the early 1880s and European, Chinese and other Pacific Island influences. This has created a society where diverse traditions thrive side by side, whether that is in the languages they speak (English, iTaukei and Fiji Hindi); religious customs, which extend from ceremonial traditions of the iTaukei to Christian communities and Hindu temples; and cuisines, like the iTaukei dishes of kokoda, spicy Indian curries and flavourful Chinese stir-fries.
Here then is a selection of six unique things to do in Fiji that you should experience during your trip to the island.
Fiji’s most cherished cooking tradition is lovo. Often reserved for special occasions, a communal lovo is a traditional slow-cooking method where meat, fish and root crops like taro are cooked on white-hot stones in an underground pit covered with leaves and dirt for a few hours. Once cooked, the lovo is unearthed, and the food is placed on large banana leaves to serve buffet style. This type of cooking melds flavours together, making the meat tender and the vegetables bursting with goodness. Women usually prepare the food while the men tend to the fire and cooking process. Many resorts and villages include this method of cooking as a weekly activity that includes traditional singing and dancing. If you want to experience a hands-on lovo cooking class, head to the family-run Vavavi Experience in Wailoaloa, Nadi. The five-hour session includes a market visit and a cooking demonstration with the locals, where you will make lovo from scratch. It's an immersive experience that helps visitors appreciate the communal effort that goes into such a feast.
As a sea-faring people, Fijians have used druas, a traditional double-hulled canoe, to travel across islands for millennia. The vessels were traditionally used as war canoes to transport as many as 200 warriors at speeds of up to 30 kilometres per hour to battle. The drua were slowly phased out as more modern alternatives came along, but visitors can understand what it was like to sail one with "The Drua Experience." This is where you board a replica of the last existing vessel, learn stories of ancient seafaring over a bowl of kava, have a turn steering the boat and swim at stops along the way. Visitors can also learn how to sail a smaller version of these traditional sailing boats at the Leleuvia Island Resort, off Viti Levu’s east coast.
Fiji’s national drink is kava, also known as yaqona. The earthy elixir is extracted from the dried roots of a pepper plant (Piper methysticum), which takes three to four years to mature and harvest before the roots are sun-dried and ground down into a fine powder. To make kava, the powder is added to a straining cloth, mixed with cold water and squeezed a few times until an earth-coloured liquid is extracted into the tanoa (kava bowl). Most resorts across Fiji encourage guests to join in a kava ceremony, but be warned that it is an acquired taste. There’s also a proper etiquette that guests should follow during a kava ceremony. Usually, your host will offer you two options—high tide (full cup) or low tide (half cup). When you are presented with a bilo (bowl), here’s what you should do: clap once in a loud, cupped fashion and accept the proffered cup; say bula (hello) to your hosts and others, then drink the kava in one gulp (do not sip); and then finally return the cup, clap three more times in the same manner and finish with the word vinaka (thank you). Remember that sitting cross-legged on the floor is a polite thing to do during your village visit.
One of Fiji’s most fascinating cultural traditions is the firewalking ceremony which is practised only by the descendants of the Sawau tribe of Beqa Island. Legend has it that this gift was given to an ancestor who caught and then freed a spirit. Often a rite of passage or a test of courage for young village men, the practice and discipline to perform this ceremony has been perfected over the centuries. Men follow strict protocols like abstaining from things like coconuts and sex, as doing so can cause the spirits displeasure and result in severe burns. Several hours before the ceremony begins, performers build a pit three to four feet deep and 12-15 feet in diameter, fill it with massive river stones, and pile a large bonfire above the pit to heat the stones until they are white hot. When the fire dies down, a few chosen men stab at the stones with long poles to stabilise them. Finally, leaves are placed across the pit to bless it before the excess ash and charcoal are removed. At the signal from the ceremonial priest, a troupe of firewalkers enters the arena, chanting and stepping gingerly across the heated stones one by one. When each man has conquered the fiery pit, they end the ceremony with more chanting and sacrifice their fern anklets to the pit. Days later, the anklets are recovered, ground and mixed into a tonic that is consumed by the firewalkers to complete the ritual. Although Beqa Island is the ideal place to view this ceremony in its most authentic form, you can also see it being performed on Viti Levu.
The meke is a traditional dance performed by men and women to tell stories through song and motion. In general, men demonstrate strong, virile movements, while women are more graceful and feminine. Both groups also sometimes use clubs, spears and fans to emphasise their movements. Most resorts invite a meke group to perform at least once a week, but if you miss it, you can visit the Fiji Culture Village just outside Nadi town to catch a live performance.
If you’re looking to pamper yourself with some spa therapy in Fiji, the traditional deep tissue Bobo treatment is one you simply can’t miss. This traditional massage technique is used to relax and heal aches and pains. Using local oils to knead the most stubborn knots, your masseuse will apply long, firm strokes with their fingertips, forearms and elbows to stimulate circulation, release tension and relax your muscles. There’s also a rare foot-based Bobo technique, typically found in some traditional Fijian villages. After a Bobo, most people report a deep sense of relaxation. If you’ve been snorkelling, hiking or playing on the beach, a Bobo is the perfect remedy to soothe tired muscles and help you drift off into the most delicious sleep. Combine this hour-long massage with a nourishing facial for the ultimate indulgence.