Local businessman and environmental advocate Sukulu Soko has expressed his deep appreciation for bamboo, highlighting its beauty, versatility, and crucial role in environmental sustainability. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Soko aimed to raise awareness about bamboo’s significant impact on ecosystems, livelihoods, and its potential in combating climate change.
Sukulu Soko’s journey began as a high school computing teacher. He hails from Southern Lau and has familial ties to the islands of Ogea and Fulaga, famous for exceptional woodcarving and canoe-building skills. He completed his primary education in Levuka and Viti Levu, before studying at Ratu Sukuna Memorial School and then Nasinu Teacher’s College, where he earned a diploma in computing in 1987.
Soko taught computing in various secondary schools in Suva, mentoring notable individuals like Former Fiji TV presenter Viliame Leqa and current National Disaster Management Office director Vasiti Soko. In 2002, feeling a desire for a new direction, he left teaching to explore sustainable business opportunities.
His passion for bamboo was ignited on a visit to Colo-i-Suva, where he discovered a unique yellow bamboo branch. After nurturing it in his home garden, he saw potential for a business that could also honor his heritage. With an aim to utilize bamboo sustainably, he began crafting utensils and exploring its many uses.
In 2009, Soko became well-connected in the global bamboo community, joining organizations like the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization. He named his business Sunnyville Bamboo Development, a blend of his family’s surname and a popular TV show from his children’s childhood. Founded in 2010, his business produces cutlery, jewelry, furniture, and more.
Soko has also returned to teaching, sharing his extensive bamboo knowledge with woodworking students at the Timber Industry Training Centre. He engages in community outreach to promote sustainable timber use and the ecological benefits of bamboo, including its abilities to purify contaminated soil and stabilize riverbanks.
On World Bamboo Day, Soko emphasized the need to change perceptions of bamboo, which is often undervalued. He argues that, unlike traditional timber, bamboo is sustainable and eco-friendly, maturing much faster and offering numerous environmental benefits.
Soko advocates for the inclusion of bamboo studies in academic programs, especially considering its potential to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. He remains committed to raising awareness about this often-overlooked plant, vowing to continue his efforts for a more sustainable future.