In Part 3 of our overview of traditional Fijian games, we will look at games which were usually played by youths.
Details about these traditional games were provided by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs — iTaukei Institute of Language and Culture.
Games as such, if not played with precaution, could result in injuries, but despite the injuries everyone was sure to have a good laugh and enjoy their time before the pain was felt later.
Veileveleveti
A game played by two teams. A team climbs up the tree, while the opposing team will pull on their legs to bring them down. Those on top of the tree will kick the hands to avoid being pulled down. The opposing team cannot smack their feet with a stick, except use their hands in trying to pull the players down. Once the whole team comes down, they change sides.
Veitara
A game also known as veibusi, veidreu and qito he, is probably one of the few games that is still played today precisely among children. It is tag which involves one chasing other players in an attempt to “tag” or touch them, usually with their hands. A game that can have from as low as two players to a hundred.
Vakadovu
According to the iTaukei Affiars Ministry, this game interpreted by Misi Tomuseni, was usually played on Kabara in the Lau Group.
Sugar cane is cut in abundance and placed as a heap with the men standing from a distance with their spears.
Whoever’s spear hits the sugar cane first, wins the game.
Vakatalolovo
Probably one of the most interesting games played during the pre-contact period.
A makeshift shed is built and filled with food, fruits, and root crops. The food is then covered by leaves while the men stand from a distance with their bows and arrows.
The winner is declared by the shooter who hits the most food with his arrow. And the food he hits he then takes home.
Veisabiliga
Veisabiliga means to slap another hand. A game commonly played by children and young girls in two teams.
One team will be lined up in the middle of a playing field or village ground, while the other team will be lined up from one end of the ground.
Before running on to the field, the team will agree as to which player will be issuing the biggest slap and who will be the target.
The team will march on to the field to their opponent and will slap each other’s hand. The one who is being given the biggest slap will then try and catch that player to score a point.
