The Dynamics of Culture in a Fijian Village

Abstract

This paper dlscusses the dynamics of culture in a Fijian village from two aspects. The first is an attempt to investigate the relationship between the culture and the self-interests of its members. On the one hand, culture is manipulated and modified in response to the interests of its actors. On the other hand, culture is a primary factor that regulates the interpretations and strategies for the conditions of those interests. However, the relationship between these cannot be understood properly if one considers culture to be static and inflexible. As with Bourdieu's 'habitus,' culture is formed from the concrete conditions of each person, then continues to evolve. What kind of tastes, beliefs and values have the actors adopted or are they going to adopt under any given conditions? Furthermore, do these exert influence or tend to influence interpretations and strategic decisions? The second aspect concerns the differences and similarities associated with these tastes, beliefs and values. Culture is by no means indelibly engraved on its members. There are several groups whlch share the same particular 1lving conditions and life-style, notwithstanding their organization or consclousness. In addition to common interests, the members of a group dlsplay similar interpretations and strategies. It is essentlal to consider how the groups pursue these two in their own manner and give rlse to cultural dynamics. This dlscussion refers to changes taking place from the 1960's to the mid-1980's in the central village of Tobuniqio, Iocated in the Vugalei district of Viti Levu island in Fiji. Tobuniqio is a farming village comprised of 30 dwellings, and had a population of 114 as of 1985. There are flve clans, including the chiefly sub-clan. During this time, the population and families of Tobuniqio changed drastically. The changes consisted largely of two diametrlcally opposed movements: reduced population during the 1960's due to migration to towns, and then a population increase due to a return from towns in the 1970's. The migration to towns was brought about by the economic growth of Fiji and the construction of a transportation network. The subsequent return to the village stemmed from an economic recession which most immediately affected the temporary labor force, i.e., most of those who moved out of the village. As the recession persisted, more and more unemployed workers returned to Tobuniqio. The lack of career opportunities during this period gave young school graduates no choice but to remain in the village. Among the returnees were some who constructed expensive houses for retirement or to commute to work from their homes in the village.