THE people of Vuda marked another 10-year cycle of fulfilling their traditional obligation through the completion of repairs to the chiefly bure at Viseisei Village.
According to Alipate Tuinabai, a member of the kingmaker clan, the repair work was estimated at around $30,000.
“This tradition has been in existence since the village site was shifted from its old site in 1837,” said Mr Tuinabai.
“The repair of the bure every 10 years is the traditional obligation of the people of Vuda, signifying the respect and support we have for our chief. “We are proud to maintain this part of the tradition.”
Mr Tuinabai said their relatives from Namara, Waya, were responsible for the repairs of the bure while other tribes in Vuda assisted with the transporting of the building materials.
“We paid $8000 for grass to the people of Nakabuta in Nadroga to replace the old grass at the bure.
“We are grateful that the people of Nakabuta also donated potteries to be used at the chiefly house.”
He said the occasion united the people of Vuda and at the same time educated the younger generation.
“This year we have included more youths because they are the ones that will be doing this job in the next 10 years.”
Mr Tuinabai said the chiefly bure was solely used by the Tui Vuda as his resting place.
“Even the wife of the Tui Vuda is not allowed to sleep there,” he said.
“The wife’s responsibility is to clean the bure and look after it. In fact the Tui Vuda and his wife have another house in the village where they can sleep and have meals.
“The Vunisei chiefly bure is made by the people of Vuda for their chief. Only the chief can sleep in the bure,” he said.