A Bua chief has warned of the possibility of a rapid erosion of the iTaukei cultures and traditions.
Tui Bua Ratu Makutu Nagagavoka said if immediate action was not taken, iTaukei customs and traditions were at risk of fading away.
“This disconnection threatens not only our traditions but also the essence of our identity as iTaukei people,” Ratu Makutu said.
Increasing modernisation, he said, had led to a decline in the practice of traditional rituals and maintenance of cultural values.
“The changes we are witnessing are deeply troubling,” said Ratu Makutu, adding that some customs and traditions were no longer practised.
“You may have noticed this in your own villages.”
He stressed the need to preserve crucial cultural and traditional assets like fishing grounds and land.
“These are not only integral to cultural practices and community bonding, but are economically important.”
He said everyone had a role to play in the preservation of culture and traditions.
