VILLAGE life has taught Vatiseva Ligatabua that every day brings a responsibility, whether it is caring for family, working the land or preserving tradition.
For Ligatabua, life has always been shaped by her love for her family.
She is from Naqarawai Village in Namosi, with maternal links to Naraiyawa Village, Namosi.
After marrying into Naseuvou Village in Naitasiri, she built a life with her late husband, raising seven children who have since blessed them with 15 grandchildren.
Her husband’s death in 2019 left an empty space in the family, but it also marked the beginning of a new chapter, one where her children stepped forward to carry on the work he had started.
“My husband used to work on the farm before he passed away,” Ligatabua said.
“Now my son has taken up the responsibility of looking after the farm and providing for us at home.”
Today, the farm continues to sustain the family, with her son leading the work while she lends a helping hand whenever needed.
“My son farms for us and whatever we get we sell to earn a living,” she said.
“I usually sell dalo, bananas, ota and duruka if it’s in season.”
Although the family’s livelihood depends on the land, Ligatabua’s days extend far beyond the farm.
Like many women living in Fiji’s villages, her daily routine is woven together by family commitments, and community service.
“In the village, there are village responsibilities and obligations that we have to tend to daily,” she said.
“We have village duties and responsibilities within the soqosoqo ni marama.”
As a member of the village women’s club, she helps preserve traditions that have been handed down through generations.
“We do activities like weaving and showcasing our handicraft work, particularly showing old methods of creating items,” she said.
The women’s group also plays an important role in supporting village life.
“There is also a village store that is operated by the women’s club, and also a fishpond,” she said.
Beyond her village responsibilities, Ligatabua also serves in the church’s women’s fellowship.
“Not only do I carry out my duties within the village women’s club, I also have certain tasks that I carry out in the church’s women’s club too,” she said.
When she is not attending to community commitments, she is at home preparing weaving materials such as voivoi or helping her son in the fields.
“My life revolves around chores at home, preparing weaving materials like my voivoi and helping out my son at the farm with weeding,” she said.
“I also weave, but the mats that I weave are often used for family events and are not sold,” she said.
For Ligatabua, life after losing her husband has not been defined by what was taken away, but by what remains and the willingness to keep moving forward.
In the quiet routine of tending the farm, serving her church, supporting her village and weaving for future family gatherings, she continues to enjoy life to the fullest.
