Vanua—a symbol with many ramifications in Fijian culture

In this article the author attempts to show the rationale behind the ideology of the Fijian political movement called Taukei, i.e. “owners of the land”. The fundamentalist current within the Fijian political scene in later years has made powerful use of indigenous concepts related to the land (vanua). In contrast to other ethnic groups in the country Fijians consider themselves to be upholders of indisputable moral principles also embraced by the concept vanua. On the one hand their preoccupation with everything that vanua stands for makes Fijians easy prey to political manipulation. On the other hand, the moral standards represented by vanua give them a sense of identity in a situation of rapid social and political change.