Fiji Day begins sound of the Pacific festival

Noumea (SPC/PINA Nius Online) –- The first sounds of the 8th Pacific Arts Festival came two days before the official opening of the regional event. They came during a traditional Fiji Day held at the Tjibaou cultural center.

The day was initially intended for a meeting between the Fiji community residing in New Caledonia and the Fiji contingent taking part in the 8th Pacific Arts Festival.

It turned out to attract hundreds of members of the general public cheering a joint performances by the Fiji group and the Kanak band We Ce Ca, currently one of New Caledonia’s prominent Kanak cultural bands. Festival Chairwoman, Marie-Claude Tjibaou, was also there to greet the Fiji delegation. The local Fiji community (around 65 families) cooked a traditional “lovo” for the visiting group.

“The response we’re received is quite overwhelming, everybody was looking forward to Fiji’s participation and they have enjoyed our performances. And that speaks for a brighter future for Fiji”, Fiji delegation manager Sivia Qoro said.

The welcome had started earlier in the week: on Thursday, the Fiji delegation were officially welcomed in the Nouméa “Daniel-Talon” primary school, where a ceremony was held for Fiji and Tuvalu.

Children were clapping and shouting “Welcome to Nouméa, Bula Fiji”. They also sang for the visiting artists (led by Fiji interim government assistant culture minister Adi Sainimili Dyer) and treated them with a lunch and a show.

The Fiji and Tuvaluan artists in turn performed some of their traditional songs for the schoolchildren.

At the Tjibaou Cultural Center, Qoro also stressed the multi-cultural character of the delegation sent by Fiji to the Arts Festival.

“Although we do place an emphasis on indigenous culture, at the same time, we have brought a multiracial delegation and we do respect and promote the other cultures, we have here with us the Indian community, the Rotuman and the Chinese communities.

“We are the first group that has left Fiji since the events (of May) and we see ourselves as promoting Fiji, both in terms of our culture, but also for tourism and trade relations. And this is something we’re quite happy doing here in New Caledonia”.

At the week end, other delegations arrived on the French territory from throughout the Pacific. They included Vanuatu, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia.

The French Polynesian delegation includes around 150, including dancers, craftsmen, painters, sculptors and tattoo artists.

Others did not make it, including Pitcairn and the Solomon islands. Doubt also remains as to the Marshall islands participation.

The festival officially opens on Monday evening at the Magenta stadium near Nouméa. It will last for 11 days.