In celebration of Fijian Language Week (3 Oct 2016 – 9 Oct 2016) we have installed four tabua in our Te Kākano display case. Daren Kamali selected the works and wrote a poem in the Fijian and English languages.
Na Vosa Ni Tabua (The Voice of Tabua)
BY DAREN KAMALI
Tabua is the most treasured yau talei (possession) to Itaukei (Indigenous Fijians)
Na bati vatakei na sui ni tavuto (whale's tooth and bone)
Tabua derives from the word Tabu
In Fijian
Sacred
Harvested from i bulubulu (graves) of sperm whales
Tabuas are polished with waiwai (coconut oil)
Sometimes rerega (tumeric) for darker colour
Holes drilled: tip and butt of the Tabua
Braided magimagi or ulu ni tamata (coconut sennit/human hair) lashings.
Tabua are not worn but presented with a chord in the figure walu (eight)
Sevusevu (gifted) at na ivakamau, siga ni sucu and somate (marriage, birthdays, funerals)
It has the ability to weigh heavy as a soro (apology) token
The vagauna (occasion) and sevusevu (presentation)
Determines the Tabuas spiritual value
It is vakaturaga (chiefly) to have many Tabua in Viti (Fiji)
Na Tabua is Vaka Yalo (spiritual)
Listen to Daren recite his poem
