THE Fiji Museum launched its first ever Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Google Art and Culture Online exhibition yesterday.
Fiji Museum director Sipiriano Nemani said they had received funding in 2016 to prepare a submission on an intangible cultural heritage (ICH) element for Fiji.
“So after some discussions, dialogue and deep thought, although at first there was some hesitation from a few members, working committee agreed to work on the submission, on the nomination of the vilavilairevo (firewalking),” Mr Nemani said.
The group decided it would be most opportune to submit as a representative of Fiji’s ICH element for this project, the gift of firewalking or vilavilairevo.”
Mr Nemani said although there were scholarly articles on vilavilairevo, the working group for the ICH project wanted to hear the voice of the vanua.
“Appropriate protocols were pursued including a visit to the Rewa provincial office and the then Turaga na Tui Sawau to seek support in endorsing the project,” he said.
He said there were many challenges, but it had surely paid off.
“This project really test our wings and questions rippled on how we can maximise on this new found tool and creatively present an ICH element which is now going to be found anywhere in the world,” he said.
The Turaga na Tui Sawau Ratu Timoci Matanitobua thanked the team for making an effort to capture the essence of the vilavilairevo and on the importance of safeguarding this cultural heritage.
