A group consisting of 20 musicians and dancers from the Torres Strait, a small cluster of islands located between Australia and Papua New Guinea, recently toured Fiji.
As reported by a local newspaper, the group was scheduled to showcase traditional dances at various urban and village centers in Lautoka during a 15-day tour. Their itinerary included performances in cities and towns such as Nadi, Sigatoka, Suva, Korovou, and Tailevu, as well as Viria, Vunidawa in Naitasiri, Ovalau, Rakiraki, and Tavua.
The tour was coordinated by the Ministry of Fijian Affairs in collaboration with the Australian High Commission in Suva and the Fiji Arts Council. This visit to Fiji was part of a broader itinerary that included stops in New Zealand, Hawaii, and the West Coast of the United States.
The Torres Strait islanders specifically requested the opportunity to tour Fiji in order to immerse themselves in Fijian culture and live among Fijian communities to share experiences related to dance. The initiative to take their cultural performances abroad originated from the islanders themselves, with each member contributing personal savings to make the tour possible. The Australian Government later supported the project through the Aboriginal Arts Board of Australia.
The Torres Strait Islanders are primarily of Melanesian descent, along with influences from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea. Approximately 2,000 years ago, they migrated from Melanesia to the region, attracted by the rich fishing grounds and the strategic position for inter-island trade. Renowned for their fierce independence, they are Australian citizens.
Over the last two centuries, Torres Strait Islanders have gained international recognition for their deep-sea diving skills, leading to the development of thriving industries focused on natural pearls and trochus shells. However, in the past 20 years, these traditional industries have faced challenges from synthetic alternatives, prompting significant migration from the islands to the Australian mainland. Consequently, many traditional dances and cultural practices have lost their significance in the wake of migration, and a considerable number of Torres Strait Islanders now find themselves unable to speak their native languages.