Fijian Culture and the History of Fiji  

Have you ever been to the friendliest place in the world? No, not Disneyland that's the happiest place. Seriously, we're talking friendliest people, friendliest water, friendliest accommodations well, you get the picture. Fiji is truly the friendliest place on earth, and after a single visit to this tropical island paradise, your life perspective will change for the better. As you're about to learn, it was a pretty incredible transformation that took an island of fierce warriors to create a peaceful, contemporary society.

History Of Fiji

Long before European explorers landed on the islands of Fiji in the 17th Century, the islands making up today's modern nation had long been inhabited. Excavations producing artifacts dating to nearly 1000 BC, offers evidence of early settlements, yet discussion still remains on the origin and timetable of the first Polynesian and Melanesian settlers. The natives were respected as incredible warriors and the best ship builders in the South Pacific, and from the marriages between the two cultures, the modern Fijian culture was born.

Historically, Fiji was known as Viti to the native islanders, and called Fisi by the Tongans who first encountered Captain James Cook during one of his exploratory, Pacific journeys. It was Cook who first pronounced the islands as "Fiji," and quite simply, the name stuck.

Though explorers had come across the islands as early as the 17th Century, it wasn't until the late 1800s that Great Britain began to colonize the island. In the race to "own the world," the British brought over many Indian contract workers from occupied India, to help in the modernization and colonization of this new piece of the British Empire. British rule remained until 1970, when Fiji was granted independence, and since then the island nation has seen multiple military coups that have offered a forceful system of checks and balances, and presently bearing the title: Republic of the Fiji Islands.

Fijian Culture

Fijian culture began in the prehistoric period between 1500 - 500 BC, when the Polynesian and Melanesian settlers combined their lifestyles, families and cultures, ultimately giving birth to Fijian life and culture. To this day, most Fijians are of Melanesian descent, while several are still of Polynesian decent. Many are considered to be Indo-Fijians, with lineages traced to the early British settlement, while the remaining can be traced to the Solomon Islands as well as natives from Rotuman Island.

The crossing of cultures has offered a rich diversity in many things, including foods and religious practices, though the vast majority of Fijians are of the Christian faith. Their traditional hospitality and friendliness have made the nation the perfect place for a budding tourism industry, as the nation has seen a rapid growth over the past two decades.

Fijian culture was based upon the life offered from the rich rainforests and plentiful seas. Fishing and crop cultivation have always played a key role in the Fijian culture, as coconut plantations can now be found in multiple island locations.

Ultimately, there's one great way to experience Fijian history and culture, and that's through the lore and experiences offered by the natives when you visit their homeland. It is an unforgettable experience, and truly one that everyone should partake in at least once in his or her life.