Anthropology Terms Abroad

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Fijian Sevusevu
The sevusevu is an offering of kava root that accompanies all Fijian ceremonies, large and small. In most instances, a small bundle of kava root is offered to the opposite party as a gift and gesture of community. The spokesman for the party giving the kava offers a formulaic speech of deference and goodwill. The spokesman for the receiving party then gives another speech of acceptance. In the photo at right, a young man offers a sevusevu on behalf of a youth group for an honored guest.

A Quicktime recording of a sevusevu shows the formulaic speech, the rhythmic pounding of an iron container of kava root in the background, and the formal clapping in unison that always accompany such events.

In this instance, a party of church leaders has arrived at the house of a regional chief, the Tui Navitilevu, to ask his permission to reorganize their parish hierarchy. A spokesman for the church parish offers the sevuseuv, and a spokesman for the Tui Navitilevu accepts.

Fijian Sevusevu (900k download, requires Quicktime 4)


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Related Photos
Device for pounding kava
Presentation of whole kava plant

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Fijian Methodist Singing
The dominant Christian denomination in Fiji is the Methodists, because of the strong Methodist missionary activity in the last century. The Methodist Church does not allow the playing of musical instruments during the church service. They do allow and encourage the singing of hymns, though, stating that the only instrument for church is the one God gave you.

Consequently, Fijian churches take great pride in the quality of their choirs. Choir members will practice together several times a week, and many of them compete in "Choir Competitions" that occur regularly across the country. Churches also take pride in the singing skills of their general congregations. Hymn-singing in Fijian church services can be an uplifting and moving experience.

The following Quicktime sound clip is of a hymn sung by the congregation during an Easter Sunday church service in the town of Levuka. Karen Brison recorded it with her portable tape recorder.

Hymn from Easter Sunday Church Service (2000k download, requires Quicktime 4)


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Rakiraki Children Sing "Karen By Night" by Jill Sobule
Because of Jeffrey, village children were a regular part of our household in Rakiraki. Most afternoons we'd have several children at the house playing with Jeffrey and his toys.

Fijian children, especially once they go to school, have a strong interest in popular culture from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. They take particular interest in song lyrics from popular music. When a new song hits the charts, children scramble to put together accurate transcriptions of lyrics for memorizing songs.

The following Quicktime sound clip is of the Rakiraki children singing along with Jill Sobule in her song "Karen By Night." The children took particular interest in this song because it was about a "Karen." Much of the humor came from imagining OUR Karen as the song's protagonist.

Rakraki Children Sing "Karen By Night" (900k download, requires Quicktime 4)


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