AT the age of 77, Komo villager Joeli Mau Jeke believes there should never be a barrier to achieving the things one wants in life.
Joeli shared his views during the second government visit this year to the southern Lau group.
While women and men were busy preparing meals and performing the traditional welcoming kava ceremony for the 104-strong government delegation visiting Joeli’s village, he was found sitting on one side of the village green selling the product of his hard work called the fue or i roi in iTaukei .
The fue, which is a flyswatter, is made from magimagi or sennit made from weaving together coconut fibres stripped from coconut husks . Joeli explained the fue was used in the olden days by his forefathers to keep away flies and insects bothering them or used by women during meals.
Joeli said it saddened him to know he was the only one in the village who now knew how to make the fue.
Speaking in the iTaukei language, Joeli said despite his many attempts to teach the younger generation in the village how to make the fue, he had never succeeded.
“Levu na gauna ra sa dau soli ulubale na gauna au dau kacivi ira kina me keimami mai dabe vata me ra vuli, sa rui levu na vucesa,” he said. (Mostly when I arrange for a sit-down with them so that they can learn how to make the fue, they give me excuses, they’re just too lazy).
During the delegation’s visit, Joeli had brought with him 20 of his handmade flyswatter selling them for $10 each. Within minutes all flyswatters had been sold.
He said it was encouraging to see those living in towns and cities were still interested in using traditional flyswatters instead of the plastic ones now sold in shops.
Joeli said he could make 30 flyswatters in a week provided he didn’t have any other commitment to attend to.
“Au dau vakauta yani e so i Suva me lei volitaki na makete io na gauna qo sa sega tu baleta ni sa rui sau levu,” he said. (I used to send some to Suva to be sold at the market, but now I’ve stopped because it’s not selling for a good price).
Joeli said the money he earned from selling flyswatters had greatly helped him and his wife, who were both residing in the village, while their three daughters had their own families to look after.
