Fiji
Religion is one of the primary differences between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, with the former overwhelmingly Christian (97.2% at the 1996 census), and the latter mostly Hindu (70.7%) and Muslim (17.9%).
The largest Christian denomination is the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma. With 36.2% of the total population (including almost two-thirds of ethnic Fijians), its share of the population is higher in Fiji than in any other nation. Roman Catholics (8.9%), the Assemblies of God (4%), and Seventh-day Adventists (2.9%) are also significant. Fiji is also the base for the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia (part of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia). These and other denominations also have small numbers of Indo-Fijian members; Christians of all kinds comprise 6.1% of the Indo-Fijian population. Much major Roman Catholic missionary activity was conducted through the Vicariate Apostolic of Fiji.
Hindus belong mostly to the Sanatan sect (74.3% of all Hindus) or else are unspecified (22%). The small Arya Samaj sect claims the membership of some 3.7% of all Hindus in Fiji. Muslims are mostly Sunni (59.7%) and Shia (36.7%), with an Ahmadiya minority (3.6%) regarded as heretical by more orthodox Muslims. The Sikh religion comprises 0.9% of the Indo-Fijian population, or 0.4% of the national population in Fiji. Their ancestors came from the Punjab region of India. The Bahá'í Faith has over 21 Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout Fiji and Baha'is live in more than 80 localities.[12] The first Baha'i on the island was a New Zealander who arrived in 1924.[12] There is also a small Jewish population on the island. Every year the Israeli Embassy organises a Passover celebration with approximately 100 people attending.
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Sport
The national sport of Fiji is considered to be rugby union (see rugby union in Fiji), however rugby league is also widely played. The national team is very successful given the size of the population of the country, and has competed at four Rugby World Cups, the first being in 1987, where they reached the quarter-finals. The Fiji national side did not match that feat again until the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they upset Wales 38-34 to progress to the quarter-finals. Fiji also competes in the Pacific Tri-Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup. The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team. At the club level there are the Colonial Cup and Pacific Rugby Cup. The Fiji sevens team is one of the most successful rugby sevens teams in the world, having won the two world cup titles and the 2006 IRB Series.
Following is a list of Notable Fijians in Sport:
- Jimmy Snuka, a Hall of Fame professional wrestler.
- Vijay Singh, A professional golfer.
- Waisale Serevi, a world-renowned sevens rugby player, is from Fiji. Commentators often refer to him as either "the Magician", "Maestro" or also "the King of Sevens".
- Lote Tuqiri, dual code international for Australia in rugby league and rugby union, and former captain of the Fiji national rugby league team.
- Petero Civoniceva, representative footballer for the Australia national rugby league team.
- Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko are Fijians who play for New Zealand's All Blacks.
- Rupeni Caucau plays for a French rugby union club.
- David Rodan and Alipate Carlile, professional Australian rules footballers in the Australian Football League.
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Culture
Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian, Chinese and European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food, costume, belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance and sports.
The indigenous culture is very much active and living, and is a part of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has evolved with the introduction of vibrant and old cultures like the Indian and Chinese ones, as well as a large influence from Europe, and from various Pacific neighbors of Fiji, mainly the Tongan and Rotuman. The culture of Fiji has created a unique communal and national identity.
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See also
- List of Fiji-related topics
- List of Fijians
- Communications in Fiji
- Transport in Fiji
- Military of Fiji
- Foreign relations of Fiji
- Fiji Meteorological Service
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Footnotes
- ^ PDF article from Fiji Government on Line, section on Europeans in Fiji
- ^ Pacific Peoples, Melanesia/Micronesia/Polynesia, Central Queensland University
- ^ Abel Janszoon Tasman Biography, Answers.com
- ^ Oceania - A Short History of Fiji, Jane Resture's Oceania Page
- ^ Phil Taylor. "Fiji – alone under the gun", NZ Herald, 2006-12-06. Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
- ^ Phil Mercer. "Ads for Fiji's post-coup cabinet", BBC News, 2006-12-09. Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Commander hands back Executive Authority to Ratu Iloilo", Fijivillage, 2007-01-04. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "I support army takeover: Iloilo", Fijilive, 2007-01-04. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "President swears in interim PM", Fijilive, 2007-01-05. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Emergency rule declared in Fiji", BBC News, 2007-09-07. Retrieved on 2007-09-30.
- ^ Fiji Economy and Politics,Economy and Politics in Fiji,Economy and Politics at Fiji. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
- ^ a b "Graceful trees mark anniversary", Baha'i World News Service, 2005-04-12. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
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References
- Wright, Ronald (1986). On Fiji Islands. Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 5 Dec 2006. ISBN 067080634X. Traces the colonization of the Fiji Islands, explains how the Fijians have managed to keep their language and culture intact, and describes modern Fiji society.
- Derrick, Ronald Albert (1951). The Fiji Islands: A Geographical Handbook. Govt. Print. Dept Fiji, 334 pages, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 11 Jul 2006. Details on Fiji its history and Geography.
- Lal, Brij V. (1992). Broken Waves: A History of the Fiji Islands in the Twentieth Century. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824814185. Details of Fiji's History, Geography, Economy.
- Back to the Chessboard: The Coup and the Re-Emergence of Pre-colonial Rivalries in Fiji. In: Kolig/Mückler (eds.) (2002). Politics of Indigeneity in the South Pacific. LIT Verlag, Hamburg, 143–158. ISBN 3825859150.
- Miller, Korina; Jones, Robyn; Pinheiro, Leonardo (2003). Fiji. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1740591348. Travel guide.
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Bibliography
- Derrick, Ronald Albert (1957). A History of Fiji. Suva, Fiji: Government Printer.
- Scarr, Deryck (1984). Fiji: A Short History. Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0868613193.
- Waterhouse, Joseph (1998). The King and People of Fiji. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824819209.
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- Fiji travel guide from Wikitravel
- Fijiguide.com - A comprehensive Travel and Culture Guide to Fiji
- CIA Factbook
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- Official Website of the Parliament of Fiji
- Bulafiji.com. Official Fiji Visitors Bureau website
- The Fiji Times - Fiji News, Sport and Weather from Fiji's leading newspaper
- Open Directory Project - Fiji directory category
- Documents affecting Fiji at the Diplomacy Monitor
- Seacology Fiji Projects Seacology
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