The people of Bau will this week observe two significant traditional ceremonies to honour the late former President and Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, marking the conclusion of the customary 100-day mourning period.
The ceremonies, which hold deep cultural and historical significance for the chiefly island, will take place tomorrow and Saturday.
The first ceremony, known as the duki, will be held on Thursday. It is a rare traditional ceremony performed only following the passing of a chief and involves the lifting of the qoliqoli tabu (traditional fishing ground prohibition) over the waters surrounding Bau Island.
The lifting of the tabu symbolises the end of a period during which access to the traditional fishing grounds is restricted as a mark of respect for the deceased chief.
The second ceremony, the vakataraisulu, will be held on Saturday. It is the traditional ceremony marking the end of the 100-day mourning period and formally concludes the customary observances following Ratu Epeli’s passing.
Ratu Epeli was Fiji’s President from 2009 to 2015 and later became Speaker of Parliament from 2019 to 2022.
