My grandfather once told me that stories were passed down from one generation to another and that was one of the method they used to keep records of things that happened. Another method they used to keep their stories passed on is through chanting and dancing – ‘meke’ in Fijian.
This is one example of one of their many stories that talks about them drifting from Lake Taganyika across the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and reaching the island that they named, “Viti” or Fiji today.
The song/chant/meke in my own interpretation is:
My ancestors, let me talk about about them.
When the came from South Africa.
Oh! Verata(spelling is probably wrong b’coz it’s Fijian pronouncitation) their real village near the big Lake Tanganyika.
Lutunasobasoba led them as they travelled from South Africa.
With Nai his wife, a woman from East Egypt.
Lutunasobasoba had five children, Today, they are the chiefly descendants of Fiji.
He had only one daughter, Buisavulu(her name) she lives in Bureta.
Rokomautu(one of his son) lives in Verata,
Melasiga(second son) lives in Burebasaga.
Tuinayavu(third son) lives in the Batiki area.
Daunisai lives in Kabara.
The reason why they came out off Tangayika
A serious illness(some form of sickness) had struck them.
They travel across the Atlantic.
They looked for places/islands/land to stay across the Pacific Ocean.
This reminds me of a Laisa Vulakoro ‘sigidrigi’ song.
Word for word same lyrics except its in i-Taukei.
I guess she got her inspiration from this chant you’re describing.
#Embrace your heritage
#Descended from cannibals and Proud.
Real interesting stuff.Well, let me tell you the truth; I haven’t the faintest idea of where Fijians came from but we worked in Jerusalem, that’s for sure.
Honestly no one can ever find out where Fijians came from till the end of time.
Honestly; we have.
l’m just putting final details in my presentation, and correction; that Nai the wife of Lutunasobasoba, originated from Southern Nile region.
Hi friends, in my native language of Mekeo, we call our biological father as; A-ABBA and biological mother as; A-AE. Is it similar to ABBA in Hebrew for father. I’m from Papua, southern part of Papua New Guinea.
ANDREW EKO FANGU’U
P.O.BOX 642, PORT MORESBY.
NATIONAL CAPITAL DISTRICT.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Mobile #: +675 72539639
Email: andiipapua@gmail.com
I was just watching an Egyptian doco and heard the Egyptian guy say ‘qarauna’ and ‘be careful ‘ which is the exact same meaning in Fijian , and curiosity brought me to this site. There’s definitely a connection there that is very intriguing..
Bula Vinaka Simione,
I was studying the bible and searching the internet for information about the Israelites, i could see, that the True Israelites fled to South Africa. And if the True Israelites fled to South Africa, than there’s a possibility that our ancestors could be running away from slavery and ended up in our little Island so called FIJI. And they hid the truth about being an Israelites to protect everyone( thats just my theory). But, if you have more info or proof about our origin or where we truly come from then i’m happy for you to send those infomation. Because i really want to know the TRUTH.
Thanks
Mo Cabe