News

'Proud to be Melanesian'

Monday, December 22, 2014

Father Jeke leads Fiji Melanesians who re-enacted the 1864 landing in a parade through the town of Levuka. (Photo: James Muller, Earth Base Productions)

David Bunton, whose missionary great-grandfather John Paton campaigned against the South Seas "labour traffic", has just attended an event in Fiji honouring the descendants of Melanesian labourers first transported to Fiji 150 years ago. He writes:

"Proud to be Melanesian" - emblazoned on T-shirts and other memorabilia - was the emerging sentiment during the weekend of 7-9 November around Levuka, site of the first Kingdom of Fiji under Chief Cakobau and then first colonial capital after cession to Britain.

            The occasion was "FM 150", a re-enactment and commemoration of the landing in Levuka in 1864 of the first 35 South Sea Islanders brought to work on Fiji's plantations, 15 years before the first Indian indentured labourers.

            Over a 47-year period about 27,000 came from the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and the Solomon Islands. They usually returned home after three years. Some, if they had a choice, preferred to go to Queensland where the trade was more regulated and labourers paid twice as much. Those who remained in Fiji became a marginalised community, the "Fiji Melanesians", who were often required to change their names and cut ties with their islands and culture of origin.

Celebration

The FM 150 weekend was a joyous celebration of identity and culture. Beginning with a prayer at the landing place by Anglican Father Jeke Maikali, a parade through the town culminated at the Levuka Oval where there was a kava welcome ceremony and traditional singing and dancing. In the Town Hall was an exhibition of history banners and artworks created for the Australian South Sea Islander 150th commemorations in Beaudesert, Queensland, last year (see Newsbriefs December 2012 and October 2013), including works by FM artist Abraham Lagi, and Australian Helen Stacey. A Fiji Melanesian Thanksgiving Service on the Sunday afternoon included an hour of spontaneous singing from Melanesian groups originating from different areas and islands.

            Fiji's Assistant Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, the Hon. Vijay Nath, himself a descendant of Indian plantation workers, welcomed guests and expressed appreciation for the contributions of the Fiji Melanesians.

            Vanuatu's Minister for Lands, the Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, with the President of Vanuatu's Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, Chief Senimao Tirsupe, made presentations of traditional baskets and mats to representatives of the descendants of workers from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, and to the senior chief on Ovalau Island, Ratu Jone Davila, representing Fijians. He said: "The Chiefs of Vanuatu thank the Chiefs of Fiji for accepting our people into your lands". He also made presentations to the organising committee and to Assistant Minister Nath.

            The Solomon Islands were represented by the High Commissioner to Fiji, Mr John Patteson Oti.

            Selina Talemaisainiai, daughter of newly elected President of the Fiji Melanesian Council Joe Sanegar, is a third generation Solomon and Vanuatu descendant: "Our (fore)fathers did not come here by choice. They were tricked and forced into captivity, and then sold as cheap labour to work for plantation owners on a land that was not their own." She said that although their numbers have grown, they continue to be marginalised: "Today 150 years later, our status remains the same. Many of our people face eviction and land security is an ongoing issue. We live at the mercy of the state and the itaukei (indigenous Fijian) landowners." She thanked the Assistant Minister for scholarship and project assistance to her people and Lesley Bryant, "whose passion for the Melanesian plight in Fiji has brought us to today's commemoration".

            Lesley Bryant's Samoan great-grandmother and British great-grandfather met and married in Levuka 125 years ago. Lesley had spent two weeks visiting Fiji Melanesian villages with Australian film-maker, James Muller, recording their stories. (One of their elders calls Lesley "our Ezekiel", referring to the prophet who brought dry bones to life.) Lesley writes: “The immense contribution of Fiji Melanesians is largely unknown, so it was wonderful to hear their stories of survival and to see so many happy and proud people at the commemorations.” James commented: “Many of the people we interviewed were recalling their family's history for the first time.”

Donors

The event was well reported in The Fiji Times and the Fiji Sun. Mr Shailendra Singh, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, said it was "the biggest, most well-publicised event Fiji Melanesians have ever done".

            Donors who funded the event, making possible the travel of Fiji Melanesians from other islands and villages, included the Prime Minister's Office, the Department of Culture & Heritage, the Solomon High Commission Office in Fiji, the Chinese Embassy in Fiji and Lesley Bryant. Levuka resident Rowena Cavenagh worked tirelessly behind the scenes to assist the organisation of the commemoration.