Beqa Island
-
Beqa Island’s Vilavilairevo Firewalking Abandoned by Mataqali Matarua, Signals Tradition in Flux
On Beqa Island, a centuries-old firewalking rite is facing a historic turning point as a mataqali formally ends the practice. Driven by a wave of spiritual renewal, the decision foreshadows broader changes in tradition, faith, and community life across the island. The path forward for this iconic ceremony—and the people who sustain it—promises to be…