A multi-racial, multi-cultural nation, the population of Fiji is made up of significant numbers of followers of all major religions.
Visitors will find Christian churches, mosques, and Sikh and Hindu temples throughout the country. Visitors are more than welcome to join the locals for Sunday worship and it's highly recommended, even if you're not that religious.
A Methodist service will give you a good insight into how the Fijian village culture is structured and why the people are so friendly and family-focussed. You may not understand many of the words, but the singing and ceremony will stay in your memory.
Micronesian Religions:
Anagumang: was a Yapese navigator who led an expedition in rafts and canoes five or six hundred years ago. On this expedition he discovered the islands of Palau, where he and his men first saw limestone. Limestone did not exist on Yap. The Palauan natives let the Yapese quarry this limestone in return for coconut meat, beads and copra; as well as performing services. Anagumang and his men first quarried the rock to make fish-shapes, but then changed to making the huge rings which are now known as Rai stones, which were easier to transport. These were then used as currency on Yap, despite being very hard to carry around. After this expedition, the Yapese frequently quarried more of these stones as more money was needed.
Anulap: is a god of magic and knowledge in the Truk Island mythology of Micronesia , who teaches these things to humanity. He is the husband of the creator goddess Ligobubfanu, and may be a creator deity himself.
Areop-Enap:In the indigenous creation myths of the people of Nauru, Areop-Enap played a major part in the creation of the world.
Auriaria: In the mythology of Kiribati, is a red-skinned giant chieftain who fell in love with the beautiful red-skinned woman, Nei Tituaabine, but had no children. She died and, from her grave grew three trees and she became a tree goddess.
Kai-n-Tiku-Aba: In Kiribati mythology , is a sacred tree located in Samoa, which grew on the back of a man named Na Abitu. Koura-Abi, a destructive man, broke it. Sorrowful, the people of Samoa scattered across the world.
Nei Tituaabine: is a red-skinned maiden in Micronesian mythology, specifically in Kiribati.She fell in love with the giant red-skinned chief, Auriaria, but they had no children. After her death, three trees grew from her grave: a coconut from her head, a pandanus from her heels and an almond from her navel. She became a tree goddess
Uekera: In the Micronesian mythology of Kiribati is a tree that reaches to the heavens, the "tree of knowledge" in Kiribati legend. It is said to have been planted in Buariki village in North Tarawa by Nei Tekanuea. It is the inspiration for the name of the Kiribati weekly newspaper, Te Uekera.
The Nauruan is a monotheistic system of belief that includes a female deity called Eijebong and an island of spirits called Buitani. Believers say that the sky and the earth were created by a spider called Areop-Enap. There are very few, if any, people on the island who still subscribe to this mythology, because of the many Westernizing influences on Nauruan lifestyle and the dominant belief of Christianity.
(Leila Perdiguero)
(Leila Perdiguero)
ISMAEL: Ismael has spoken about the right of asylum because is an important isseu in his country. He has told us his story and what is he doing now: working on building a new school for the poor children in his country. He talked about another right, right to nationality and he told us about the freedom and the correct things that you have to do to be free. For him is very important the help because he wants to help the children and another people that are in the same situation of him.
FILM: The film was about stories of inmigrants that are living in our country. Their stories are very shocked because they had a very difficult life with a lot of problems. The film wants us to think and be more comprensive with the inmigrants. The film makes us think about the society and the inequalities in our world. In my opinion is a very good film that make you meditate a lot.
INDIAN GUY: An indian guy dressed with all the typical clothes of the indian people and danced with a lot of the students. It was interesting to see his point of view and to know his story.
(Leila Perdiguero)
