More than 20 young Fijians have begun a multi‑week workshop led by the Fiji Museum aimed at restoring traditional protocol knowledge among youth, the museum confirmed as the programme enters its second week. Facilitated in partnership with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and New Zealand–based theatre company The Conch Theatre, the sessions are being held every Saturday and will continue over the next five weeks.
Organisers say the course responds to a worrying decline in customary knowledge and confidence among young people — particularly young men — who have historically been charged with key ceremonial duties. “We are working with relevant agencies to help participants gain a practical understanding of proper protocol, language use and cultural expectations in Veiqaravi vakavanua,” said Late Yaqona, interim manager for visitor experience at the Fiji Museum. Yaqona described the sessions as hands‑on and aimed at preparing youths to perform their customary roles with confidence and cultural accuracy.
The workshop syllabus focuses on core elements of traditional protocol, including appropriate language and behavioural expectations during formal exchanges and village ceremonies. Organisers say the partnership with The Conch Theatre brings fresh methods for engaging participants, while the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs provides cultural oversight and guidance. More than 20 youths from across communities are taking part in the current intake, organisers added.
This programme builds on previous community engagement activities run by the Fiji Museum. Yaqona noted the museum has facilitated similar workshops before and plans to expand the initiative in the months and years ahead, signalling a long‑term commitment to youth training and cultural revitalisation. The current run is being promoted as a pilot of sorts to gauge interest, refine content and establish a model for future cohorts.
Yaqona urged the public to take pride in their identity and recommended that families and community leaders support youth participation. To help rejuvenate interest in cultural heritage, she also encouraged the public to become familiar with the Fiji Museum’s offerings and visitation packages as the institution prepares to mark World Museum Day in May.
Organisers say the immediate goal is practical: to restore everyday competence in Veiqaravi vakavanua among a new generation so they can step into communal responsibilities with certainty. Longer term, they hope the workshops will help reverse a trend of eroding oral knowledge and protocol transmission, strengthening links between young people and customary practices across Fiji.
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