IT’S been affectionately called the festival of the world, maybe because people who attend and, more particularly, those who contribute their soli or gifts during the three-day festival come from all the four corners of the globe.
In fact, chief guests at this festival to be held next month at the Suva foreshore carpark are those living abroad, in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
It’s called the Vanuabalavu Day Festival, organised by people of the 17 villages, who live in these group of islands in northern Lau.
The inaugural three-day of singing, dancing and soli was held at the same venue in the capital in 2012, on October 8, 9 and 10.
Then, with each of the 17 villages working on specific targets, the people of Vanuabalavu raised a total of $355,000 net of expenses. Now after a break of three years, islanders hope to raise $400,000.
“At a meeting held on Vanuabalavu on September 2011, the Vanuabalavu Island Council approved the establishment of some commercial vehicles aimed at generating incomes for the people of Vanuabalavu,” explains Laisenia Qarase, chairman of the Vanuabalavu Day Festival organising committee.
“In this regard, the council subsequently approved the setting up of the Vanuabalavu Island Trust (VIT), and the Vanuabalavu Holdings Ltd (VHL).
“The VIT was registered on January 13, 2012, under the Charitable Trusts Act, and the VHL was registered on 25th May, 2012 under the Companies Act.”
Apart from being a long-time banker and financial adviser, Mr Qarase is a chief holding the title of Na Turaga Tuikobuca of his village of Mavana, located on the northeastern shores of Vanuabalavu. He served as prime minister from 2000 to December 2006.
In establishing VIT in 2012, its principal objective was to create a common pool of funds for investments in equities, trust funds, real estate and other secure and profitable investment opportunities.
Incomes generated from these investments would be used to fund projects that would benefit the people of Vanuabalavu generally.
Examples include education, spiritual and social development. The beneficiaries of the VIT will be the people of Vanuabalavu.
VHL, on the other hand, was established to provide an investment vehicle for the people of Vanuabalavu.
“Shares in the company would be issued to the VIT, village companies/entities, trust funds and family companies,” Mr Qarase said.
“Later, shares would be offered to individuals who come from Vanuabalavu. VHL is expected to invest its share capital in real estate, trust funds, Unit Trusts, shares in other companies and in other income earning assets.
“Incomes generated by VHL would benefit all shareholders and the people of Vanuabalavu generally.”
The “soqo ko vuravura,” festival of the world was therefore born to generate capital for the two investment companies of Vanuabalavu.
As chairman of the organising committee, Mr Qarase leads a group of 18 men and women from his home island that live or work in Suva.
These included a chief of Lomaloma, Na Turaga na Ravunisa, Ratu Jone Korovou, and a chief of Mualevu, Ratu Apenisa Dakuna. The former managing director of Post Fiji Ltd, Peni Mau, is also in the organising committee as well as retired teachers, business directors and public administrators.
To prepare for the three-day festival of soli, meke performances and display of art and crafts and cultural practices that are unique to Lauans, the committee formed several sub-committees that handled fundraising, sponsorship, festival venue and utilities, lotu (religious services), transportation, publicity and festival merchandise.
“As we count down to October 7, it’s all hands on deck for the 7000 or so people who call Vanuabalavu home,” said Mr Qarase.
“These included those living on the island, those of us on Viti Levu or on Vanua Levu, as well as those kai Vanuabalavu who have made their homes overseas.
“I have been fortunate in the past few months to visit our people in North America, those in Sydney as well as in Auckland.
“On my return from these visits, I reported to the organising committee that the people of Vanuabalavu living overseas have been busy fund-raising and are so looking forward to the three-day Vanuabalavu Day Festival.”
Part II — Three days of island fun, dancing and feasting
About Vanuabalavu: The island of Vanuabalavu lies about 180 kilometres north-east of Suva, Fiji in the northern Lau Group of islands.
Three inhabited nearby islands of Avea, Cikobia and Tuvuca are part of the Vanuabalavu group of islands.
The islands are accessible by inter-island shipping services.
There is a weekly air transport service provided by Fiji Link, a subsidiary of Fiji Airways Ltd.
Vanuabalavu consists of two administrative districts; the tikina of Mualevu and the tikina of Lomaloma. Mualevu tikina comprises eight villages, namely Mualevu, Mavana, Daliconi. Avea, Boitaci, Cikobia, Muamua and Malaka.
Lomaloma tikina consists of nine villages, namely Lomaloma, Sawana, Levukana, Susui, Uruone, Dakuilomaloma, Namalata, Narocivo and Tuvuca. Mualevu is the chiefly village of the tikina by the same name and likewise for Lomaloma tikina.
The leading chief of Mualevu tikina assumes the title Na Turaga Sau ni Vanua ko Mualevu, Turaga na Tui Mavana.
There are three main chiefs of Lomaloma tikina; Na Turaga Ravunisa, Na Turaga Rasau and Na Turaga Tui Naturuku.
The total population of Vanuabalavu is approximately 7000 people, 3000 of whom live in the 17 villages and 4000 live in other parts of Fiji and overseas, seeking higher education and paid employment.
The principal sources of income to people who reside on Vanuabalavu are copra, marine resources, agricultural products and handicrafts.
The movement of people to other parts of Fiji and overseas has been driven, to some extent, by the lack of income opportunities in the islands.
* The writer is the public
relations officer of the
Vanuabalavu Day Festival.
