In this second part of exploring traditional iTaukei games, we will be amazed at the extent our ancestors go to when playing traditional games.
Some games resulted in injuries but at the end of the day, there is no malice between the two sides. At the end of every game, both sides join in for a party which is usually filled with jokes and laughter.
Just a short note, the names of some of these games are difficult to translate in the English language.
Lutuvakatagane
A game usually played by men, where they throw each other with lemons. The winner is declared by the number of lemons thrown and the number of lemons that hit the target. Wonder if that game is still played today?
Veisovia
I remember playing this game when I was in high school back in the village. It is a game which is usually played during the week of the new year’s celebration. Teams are made up by either mataqali (landowning unit) or house location in the village.
A stick, which is usually a bamboo, is planted on both ends of the ground. It is a competition of two teams.
Players from one side will try to make their way to the bamboo planted on their opponents side without being touched by a player from the opposing side. The winner is declared by points scored from the number of times a team touches the bamboo of the opposing team. The game lasts about a week, and every night there is feasting and dancing in the village hall.
Na Veisole
This is one of the most fun and interesting games that is filled with a lot of laughter. It can be played by the whole family or village.
A child is usually covered up — back then by masi (tapa cloth) or leaves (ferns and herbs) — without any part of his body showing. The child is then taken to another house or another mataqali (landowning unit). They will try and guess the identity of the kid. They are not allowed pull the cover, off the child. Their only clue will be sounds that the kid will be making.
Na Veiqati
A game similar to that was played back in primary school which was called “Dubee”. There are two teams and the number of players in one team really does not matter. One team will be in the middle of the ground while the other will try to get to the other side of the ground.
The team in the middle of the ground will try and capture all of the opponents before they can change side. Should there be survivors from the first run, they will have to run across the ground again and will keep doing that until all the players are caught.
Na Veileveleveti
A game similar to the Japanese game sumo. In this game, the ring is the tabakau — made out of coconut leaves woven together. The two players get in the ring and there is only one rule to declare the winner. A player must push the opponent out of the ring.
Veisaga
A game which is usually played by singles. The young men and women assemble on a hilltop. The men will try to grab hold of the women, once a man manages to grab hold of a woman, they will roll down the mountain hugging each other.
There are bound to be injuries and the man is not allowed to show any sign of pain or face being ridiculed and laughed at.
Veisolo
A very unusual game where the visiting males are usually attacked by women. The women will try to scatter the food when it is taken to the males and in the process the men gently grab the women and throw them to the ground.
