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This article will attempt to explain the ancient spirituality of the indigenous people of Fiji. Indigenous spirituality is important because it describes in totality the significance of the vanua, its worldview and vanua ethos.
One must decolonize one’s thinking one is to understand the nature of itaukei spirituality and its ideology.
Few research have unpackaged the significance of the vanua, nevertheless in its simplest form; the vanua comprises of seen and unseen elements.
Nowadays, some itaukei have abandoned their traditional roles and its customs, some have prohibited the consumption of kava. But on the other hand, they are content with traditional itaukei artifacts and crafts. Others have indicated the irrelevance of culture yet when asked of their identity, without hesitation they state their place of origin.
As there are traditional beliefs surrounding yaqona consumptions and traditional ceremonies, there are also traditional beliefs associated to traditional crafts and the ancestral guardians of the vanua. An example of a traditional craft with spiritual powers is the masi, also known as the isulu ni vanua (attire of the vanua), it links the physical and the spiritual world. It is worn by newlyweds to protect them from outside influence before the marriage is consummated, it is hung at homes as protection. (Hulkenburg J, 2009:67, 68).
In the past, chiefs were regarded as representatives of gods on earth, they were considered sacred because of the sau and mana they possessed. The vanua is protected and respected because of the powers (sau and mana) the chiefs possessed. Yet, it was unreasonable for the people to continue to revere their chiefs when they cease to believe in their ancestor-gods (Thomason B, 1908:111). In Fiji, both Fijian history and Fijian traditional religion are hard to trace and attended with considerable difficulties. (Tivi. D. 2018:39)
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| Social and cultural significance |
As the body and spirit are one so too are the vanua ethos and vanua spirituality. The religion of the Fijian was so closely interwoven with their social polity that it was impossible to tear away the one without lacerating the other (Thomas B, 1908:111). Religion was a hard taskmaster to the heathen Fijian; it governed his every action from the cradle-mat to the grave (ibid).
The ancestors were faithful to their religion because it will determine their existence, victories in wars, protection of the vanua and a fruitful harvest. Prior to Christianity in Fiji, there is no such word as tevoro to describe the demon. The word “tevoro” was introduced to Fiji by the Tahitian missionaries, it is pronounced “tevolo” in Tonga and “devolo” in Samoa (Hocart AM., 1912:437)
Seremaia from Kalabu stated that “demon was introduced by Christianity, the word used was god” (pg438). This was supported by Avetaia Kurudua, the high chief of Vuna who took part in the in the religious war agaist Bau, said that “before there lived gods, demons were unheard of” (ibid).
The word demon is from Christian discourse hence it is vital that the definition is sourced from the Bible, that is –
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV)
and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, everyone in his own house. (Isaiah 14:14-18 KJV)
There are 2 personalities highlighted in the verse; demons are angels that fell from heaven and secondlly they wanted to dethrone God.
Researchers have established that the ancestral gods and spirits are not fallen angels from heaven but human beings that once inhabitat the earth, they are later being deified by their descendants. Secondly, there is no evidence that supports the notion that the ancestral gods wanted to dethrone God from heaven but instead are guardians of the vanua. Therefore, ancestral gods are not angels from heaven, they are human beings that dwelt on earth at one time. They did not want to dethrone God in heaven but are guardians of earth and inhabited the land.
Are ancestral gods and spirits good or evil?
In order to answer the question, man must reflect on the wheather humans are good or evil?
There is no direct answer to the question but it can be stated with much assurance that at times one can be filled with good heart and sometimes with evil intentions.
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