Villages in the Savatu district of Ba are facing a pivotal moment as they navigate the tension between traditional customs and modern practices.
Traditionally, drums filled with kerosene were offered during the solevu ceremony, but some villages are beginning to replace these with cooking pots. This shift has ignited a discussion on the importance of cultural preservation in the face of evolving realities.
The Savatu district, which includes the villages of Lewa, Naiyaca, Nagatagata, Buyabuya, Marou, Koro, and Nadala, has experienced a slow transition from the use of kerosene to cooking pots, a change initiated by traditional leaders last year. This decision was mainly influenced by concerns about the integrity of the kerosene used, with reports of some drums being only partially filled and topped off with water.
While certain villages have welcomed this transformation, others remain committed to maintaining their traditional customs. Many argue that kerosene drums, along with the esteemed tabua, are essential offerings during the solevu.
Timoci Ketewai from Nadala Village firmly believes that cooking pots should not substitute for kerosene in these significant cultural events. “It is not appropriate,” he asserts. “Solevu has always involved the contribution of either drums of kerosene or the tabua. This has been our practice for generations, and it should be preserved.”
Conversely, Nadarivatu villager Sanita Lewavudi also stands by traditional practices, condemning the dilution of kerosene with water as disrespectful to iTaukei values. “Our contributions should reflect our respect for tradition,” she emphasizes. “Bringing cooking pots without kerosene drums feels like a departure from our cultural identity.”