Preserving and maintaining traditional literature and culture should be one of the priorities of the country, especially in this day and age where youths are very much unaware of their cultural traditions.
These were the winning words of Milika Vitalina, who scooped the 1984 Fijian Language Oratory Competition.
The Fiji Times reported on June 9, 1984, that the fifth former of Ballantine Memorial School claimed first place out of 16 participants from different schools around Fiji. She jumped with joy on the stage of the Civic Auditorium in Suva when she was announced the winner of the competition.
She spoke on the topic of “Fiji and the future” and said activities and projects that helped maintain traditional language were something that should be considered.
She asked the audience of about 750 people what they thought was the role of a young Fijian person in the country’s future.
“Technological processes have brought many changes in our land,” she said. “Many young people have turned a deaf ear to learning about traditional values.
“If we want to see a good strong Fiji, we need to look at our foundations and roots because the future of Fiji rests in the hands of young people like us.”
Then deputy prime minister and minister for economic planning and development Ratu David Toganivalu was the chief guest at the event.
The second-place winner was Verenaisi Likuwai of Ratu Sukuna Memorial School who spoke on “Death is the beginning of life” while third place went to Waeya Mataele of Marist Brothers High School who spoke on the topic, “Fiji under Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s leadership.”
The contest was organised by the Curriculum Development Unit of the Ministry of Education.
Prizes included a return trip to New Zealand for first place, a return trip to Labasa for second place, and three cash prizes totalling $100.
Speaking in the iTaukei language, Ratu David said the Government recognised the importance of Fiji’s different cultures and supported efforts to keep them alive and flourishing.
On the languages of his own island, Bau, Ratu David said the iTaukei dialect used in books, newspapers and usually heard on the radio, although popularly called “Bauan” was different from the true Bauan dialect.
It arose from the Fijian dialect spoken by the early missionaries and was a mixture of Lakeba and Viwa words with a grammar heavily influenced by English.
It would be better if the standard Fijian were based on real Bauan, he said.
Ratu David said the Government supported iTaukei language in many ways.
This included having the Fijian Language Curriculum Development Unit of the Ministry of Education and the Fijian Dictionary Project of the Ministry of Fijian Affairs.
Ratu David said three types of Fijian oratory were customary: the speech of ceremonies, the repartee of the meeting house and the more recently introduced preaching style. Children should be made aware of the difference in these styles and when each was appropriate, he said.
The contest was organised as a preliminary to the Ratu Sukuna Day celebrations.
The first prize winner was awarded a war cub donated by the governor-general, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, in memory of his late wife, Lady Adi Davila.
