Fiji Islands

Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 2,000 km northeast of New Zealand’s North Island.

The closest neighbors of Fiji are Tonga to the east, the Samoas, New Zealand’s Kermadec to the southeast, France’s New Caledonia to the southwest, Vanuatu to the west, France’s Wallis and Futuna to the northeast and Tuvalu to the north.

Formed through volcanic activity, Fiji (once known as the Cannibal Isles) consist of an archipelago of more than 332 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets. More of the country’s islands  have been inhabited since the second millennium BC (now has  800 000 inhabitant). Most of Fijians live on Viti Levu’s coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centers.

 

Fiji is a multi-cultural society with more than 50% being indigenous Fijians and about 44% Indians and th others are Banabans.

The state of Fiji, the Polynesian island of Rotuma, quite differs in its culture and tradition from the native Fijians. Families structures differ as the Rotumans have individual houses with distinct borders. Rotumans are also known for their good nature and fun humor.

In Fiji, there are many codes and rituals that are sill practiced on a day to day basis. In visiting Fiji, it is important to be aware of some of these traditions in order to be respectful to the locals particularly when visiting a village or being introduced to a chief.