Fiji

Overview

Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an archipelagic country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It is made up of more than 330 islands and over 500 smaller islets. Most people live on the two biggest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, with many living in the capital city, Suva, or in towns like Nadi and Lautoka.

History

People have lived in Fiji since very ancient times. Europeans arrived in the 17th century, and later Fiji became a British colony. After gaining independence in 1970, Fiji had some changes in its government.

Economy

Today, Fiji has a strong economy. Its main sources of money come from tourism, money sent home by Fijians working abroad, exports of bottled water, and the sugar-cane industry. The country is rich in forests, minerals, and fish, helping support its people.

Etymology

The name "Fiji" comes from the main island called Viti Levu. Long ago, people from Fiji met explorers from Tonga and Captain Cook. The Tongans called their home "Fisi." Captain Cook used this name when he wrote about the islands. Over time, it changed to "Fiji." An older spelling, "Feejee," was used by early visitors until the late 1800s.

History

Early settlement

Fiji was settled by people from Austronesian peoples between 3500 and 1000 BC. The Lapita people or early Polynesians were likely the first settlers. Evidence shows people lived on Moturiki Island as early as 900 BC. Fijian culture shares roots with older Polynesian cultures. Trade with nearby islands happened long before Europeans arrived.

In the 10th century, the Tu'i Tonga Empire from Tonga influenced Fiji, sharing customs and language. Over time, Fijians developed their own unique traditions, such as building special watercraft called drua and creating village homes like bure. They built strong defenses and farms, and their society was led by chiefs, elders, and warriors. Fijians made cloth called masi and used sperm whale teeth as money.

Early interaction with Europeans

The first European to see Fiji was Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643. British navigator James Cook visited in 1774, and William Bligh, captain of HMS Bounty, mapped the islands in 1789. The first Europeans to stay were traders of sandalwood, whalers, and sea cucumber. By the 1820s, Levuka became Fiji's first European-style town. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1830s, slowly changing some Fijian customs.

Cakobau and the wars against Christian infiltration

In the 1840s, fights between Fijian clans happened. A leader named Seru Epenisa Cakobau became powerful and sent Europeans away from Levuka for five years. In the early 1850s, Cakobau fought against Christians but was stopped by help from Tongans and a British ship. Later, he converted to Christianity, and old Fijian temples were destroyed.

Cotton, confederacies and the Kai Colo

When the price of cotton rose after the American Civil War, many new settlers came to Fiji in the 1860s. Some settlers took land unfairly, causing fights with the Kai Colo, Fijian clans from Viti Levu's interior. In 1867, a missionary was killed, and soldiers responded. More fights happened, including attacks on settler homes.

Kingdom of Fiji (1871–1874)

After a group of leaders fell apart, George Austin Woods helped create the Kingdom of Fiji in 1871 with Cakobau as king. But problems between settlers and Fijians led to fights. The government formed an army, which fought battles and moved many people from their homes.

Blackbirding and slavery in Fiji

From 1865, people from the Pacific islands were brought to Fiji to work on cotton farms, often tricked into coming. Some indigenous Fijians were also captured and sold into slavery. This continued even after warnings.

British annexation

Fiji was taken over by Britain in 1874 because of problems with leadership and money. Cakobau and other leaders signed the Deed of Cession, and British rule began, changing Fijian life and government.

Measles epidemic of 1875

When British leaders brought Cakobau and his sons back from Sydney, they brought measles with them. The sickness spread fast in Fiji and killed many people — about a third of the population.

Sir Arthur Gordon and the Little War

British Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon faced rebellion by the Qalimari and Kai Colo people. He led soldiers against them. Many villages were destroyed, and many people were killed or captured. Gordon also set up new ways to govern, including choosing chiefs and creating a Great Council of Chiefs.

Indian indenture system in Fiji

In 1878, Britain started bringing workers from India to Fiji to cut sugar cane. Over 60,000 Indians came for five-year jobs, and many stayed after their time was up.

Tuka rebellions

Some Fijians did not want British rule and wanted to return to older ways. They formed movements called Tuka, speaking against the British. The British stopped these movements, sending away leaders and followers.

World War I and II

Fiji had a small part in World War I. One Fijian joined the French Foreign Legion and received a top award from France. In World War II, many Fijians joined the Fiji Infantry Regiment and fought in the Solomon Islands campaign. One Fijian soldier received the Victoria Cross for bravery.

Responsible government and independence

In 1965, talks began for Fiji to govern itself. After discussions, Fiji became independent on October 10, 1970, with its own constitution and parliament.

Independence

1987 coups d'état

Fiji became independent in 1970, but the government was taken over by the military in 1987. The coups happened because of worries about the growing power of the Indo-Fijian community. The second coup changed the country's name to the Republic of Fiji. Many Indo-Fijians left, causing money problems.

2000 coup d'état

In 2000, a coup led by George Speight removed the government of Mahendra Chaudhry, Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister. Commodore Frank Bainimarama took control, and elections brought back democracy in 2001.

2006 coup d'état

In 2006, Commodore Frank Bainimarama led another coup, saying it was because of corruption and a bill to pardon people from the 2000 coup. He became interim prime minister and closed parliament.

2009 transfer of power

In 2009, Fiji's highest court said Bainimarama's takeover was not legal. The president removed the constitution and again made Bainimarama interim prime minister under a "New Order."

Since 2014

Fiji joined the Commonwealth of Nations again in 2014 after elections. The FijiFirst party, led by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, won elections in 2014 and 2018. In 2022, Sitiveni Rabuka became the new prime minister after winning the election.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Fiji

See also: Flora and fauna of Fiji

Fiji is a country made of many islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It has over 330 big islands and more than 500 smaller ones. Only about 110 of these islands have people living on them.

The two largest islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The capital city, Suva, is on Viti Levu. The islands have forests and mountains, with the highest point being Mount Tomanivi.

Fiji has a warm climate all year. It can be rainy, especially from November to April. The country faces challenges from climate change, like rising sea levels and stronger storms. Fiji is working to use clean energy and protect its nature.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Fiji

Fiji has a Prime Minister who leads the country, and a President who is the head of state. People in Fiji vote in elections to choose their leaders. In 2014, a big vote happened, and a party called FijiFirst won. They won again in 2018 but lost in 2022, and a new leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, became Prime Minister.

Fiji has its own army and police to keep things safe. The army helps with peace around the world.

Main article: Local government of Fiji

Fiji is split into four big areas, and each area has smaller parts called provinces. The four areas are Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western, and together they have 14 provinces.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Fiji

Fiji has many natural resources like forests, minerals, and fish. These help make Fiji one of the more developed countries in the Pacific islands, although many people still grow their own food. In the 1950s, someone named Marion M. Ganey helped the islands by starting credit unions. These are groups that help people save and borrow money.

Fiji has timber, fish, gold, copper, oil, and hydropower. The country grew quickly in the 1960s and 1970s but slowed down in the 1980s. Some problems happened in 1987 that made the economy shrink.

In recent years, Fiji has become known for its beautiful beaches and great weather, which attract many tourists. Tourism and sugar exports are very important for the country’s money. Sugar farming has had some problems, but tourism keeps growing. Fiji also has gold mines, mainly in a place called Vatukoula.

Cities and services like hotels and restaurants have helped Fiji’s economy grow. The main source of money comes from visitors, especially from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Many people visit Fiji for holidays, trips with loved ones, or family vacations. There are beaches, coral reefs for scuba diving, and beautiful islands to explore. Fiji is also a popular place for movies and TV shows.

Tourism

Fiji is famous for its tourism. Popular places to visit include Nadi, the Coral Coast, Denarau Island, and the Mamanuca Islands. Many tourists enjoy the white sandy beaches, tropical weather, and clear blue water. Scuba diving is very popular because of the beautiful coral reefs. Fiji has both fancy resorts and more budget-friendly options for visitors.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Fiji

Fiji has many airports. The biggest one is Nadi International Airport, which is the main place for international travelers. There is also Nausori Airport, which mostly handles flights within Fiji and a few to nearby places. Other airports serve the smaller islands.

Buses are the main way people get around on the bigger islands. They are affordable and run regularly. In rural areas, you can often stop a bus as it passes by. There are also taxis and ferry services that connect the islands. The biggest ferry services are run by Patterson Brothers Shipping Company, which carries cars and cargo between the main islands.

Science and technology

Fiji is a Pacific Island country that works on science and technology. In 2012, the government spent some money on research, mostly on farming. Scientists also share discoveries in earth sciences and health.

Fiji is growing its health research with a new journal that started in 2012. The country wants to use new energy sources like solar and wind power. In 2014, the University of Fiji started a centre for renewable energy, helped by the European Union. This centre trains students in managing renewable energy. In 2020, Fiji also started an office to help with climate change projects.

Society

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Fiji

In 2017, Fiji had 884,887 people. This was a bit more than the 837,271 people counted in 2007. At that time, about 45.8 people lived in each square kilometre. People in Fiji lived, on average, to be about 72 years old. Since the 1930s, Fiji's population has grown slowly, about 1.1% each year. The country's people were, on average, about 29.9 years old, and for every one girl, there were about 1.03 boys.

Ethnic groups

Most people in Fiji are native Fijians (54.3%), who are Melanesians with some Polynesian ancestors, and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), who are descendants of Indian workers brought to the islands by British rulers in the 1800s. The number of people with Indo-Fijian roots has gone down a lot in the past twenty years because many moved away. The two groups have not always gotten along well, and this has been an important part of Fiji's politics for a long time.

About 1.2% of people are Rotuman — from Rotuma Island. There are also smaller groups of Europeans, Chinese, and other Pacific islanders. Family and community are very important in Fijian culture.

Demonym

Fiji's constitution calls all citizens "Fijians". In 2008, there was a plan to change the name for all citizens to "Fijians", which would have changed the name for native Fijians from "Fijians" to "itaukei". Some people disagreed strongly. In 2010, the top lawyer Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum again said the term "Fijian" should apply to everyone, but many still disagreed.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Fiji

The 2013 Constitution says all laws must be available in English, Fijian (iTaukei), and Standard Hindi. Fijian is part of a language family spoken in the area, and has about 350,000 people who speak it as their first language. Fiji Hindi, also called Fijian Baat or Hindustani, is spoken by most people of Indian background. English is widely used in government, business, and education, serving as a common language for everyone.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Fiji

Religion in Fiji (2007)

1. Christian (69.2%)
2. Hindu (24.0%)
3. Muslim (5.80%)
4. Other or none (1.04%)

According to the 2017 census, about 69.2% of people in Fiji were Christian, 24.0% were Hindu, 5.8% were Muslim, and 1.04% followed other religions or none. Among Christians, most — 54% — were Methodist.

Education

Further information: Education in Fiji and Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji

Fiji has a high rate of people who can read and write — about 91.6%. While school isn't required by law, over 85% of children aged 6 to 13 go to primary school. Education is free and offered by both government and church schools.

Primary education

Children in Fiji can go to primary school for free from ages 6 to 14. Primary school lasts eight years. After primary school, students get a certificate and can try to enter secondary school.

Secondary education

Secondary school can last up to five years. Students take an exam to enter. After three years, they can leave with a school-leaving certificate, or stay for two more years to try for higher education. Those who pass the exam after three years can go on to senior secondary school. At the end of this level, they may take an exam covering several subjects. Doing well on this exam lets students go to college.

Tertiary education

The University of the South Pacific is the main place for higher learning. It serves ten territories in the South Pacific. Fiji also has colleges for teachers, medical training, technology, and farming. The Fiji Polytechnic School teaches skills like engineering, hotel work, and business. Students can also study through distance learning with the University Extension Service, which has centres across the country.

Culture

Main articles: Culture of Fiji, Architecture of Fiji, and Music of Fiji

Fiji has a rich and colorful culture. The traditions of the indigenous Fijian people are strong, but many other cultures have added to Fiji's mix. People from India, China, Europe, Tonga, and Samoa have brought their own customs. Today, Fiji has a special blend of many traditions.

Sports are very important in Fiji. The country loves games, especially ones where players work together and move a lot. Rugby sevens is Fiji's national sport, and the team is very good at it. Other popular sports include netball, basketball, and cricket. Fiji's rugby teams have won many big tournaments, making the country proud.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Fiji

Rugby union is the most popular team sport in Fiji. The national sevens team has won many international competitions, including the Hong Kong Sevens many times and the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice. In 2016, they won Fiji's first Olympic medal by winning gold in rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics.

Rugby league is also played in Fiji, with the national team competing in the Rugby League World Cup. Association football, or soccer, has grown in popularity and is now the second most popular sport in Fiji. The national football team has had some successes, including qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics men's tournament for the first time.