With a rich history and culture, Fiji is a great place to vacation in. What makes this group of 300 plus islands so wonderful is the fact that the people here are among the friendliest on the planet. The customs here are unique and the art, music and dance found on Fiji are truly exceptional.

The pottery and woodcarving found here is superb, with most potters and woodcarvers using traditions handed down to them from generation to generation. Even in Fijian villages today, the same pottery styles and carving techniques are used that were practiced hundreds of years ago.

Two of Fiji’s best-known potters are Diana Tugea of Nakabuta and Taraivini Wati of Nasilai. While the former is from the Sigatoka Valley, the latter comes from the area around Rewa. Diana Tugea’s pots are mostly the kind used for cooking; where as Taraivini Wati’s pots are highly decorative and were traditionally used to store water. On the island of Kadavu, the village of Nalotu is famous for its traditional pottery.

Woodcarvings are a popular tourist buy in Fiji with the carvers here highly skilled. From religious objects such as yaqona

vessels to war clubs, spears, tanoa drinking bowls and cannibal forks, these craftsmen still use age-old methods passed down to them by their ancestors. If you are interested in seeing some authentic traditional wooden handicrafts, head down to the Fiji Museum in Suva.

Masi or tapa is another popular craft made by indigenous Fijians in which black and rust colored designs are printed on bark cloth (made from a mulberry bush). Associated with rituals and celebrations, the masi was used in ancient times as a loincloth. Today, however, it is mostly sold in the form wall hangings and decorative items. Mats and basket weavings are also popular tourist items in Fiji. Made from pandanus leaves, which go through an extensive curing and boiling process, these beautiful mats are made to either sleep or dine on or cover floors.

Music and dance also play a key role in the lives of the Fijian people. Island visitors are often welcomed to their resorts and hotels with a wonderful meke dance, which enacts local folklore and old Polynesian and Melanesian legends. Children, men and women all participate in meke, with men performing warrior dances with clubs and spears, while the women dance with fans.