The Fiji of today is an eclectic mix of many culture religions and ethnic origins, undoubtedly the most varied in the entire South Pacific. The indigenous Fijian population of Melanesian descent first arrived approximately 1600 BC. These original settlers were likely from the Papua New Guinea. Then around 1200AD a strong influx of Melanesia took hold and more advanced agricultural and fishing and poultry techniques and fishing were implemented.
These cultures at these times were small village ties that were often at war with one another. The first European settlers confirmed that they practiced cannibalism and were often quite ruthless. In 1874 the British Empire claimed it as a colony and placed Fiji under its rule. Missionaries were a strong early influence and its impact is still prevalent today. Throughout the 1800’s Fiji was the major trade center of the South Pacific.
Once Fiji was under British authority, thousands and thousands of indentured servants were brought in from India to work in the sugarcane plantations. Indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijian cultures have co-existed in roughly equal sizes since this time.
Almost from the onset of Britain’s rule, Fiji was structured so as to give the native Fijians a great deal of land rights. This was generally not the case in most British colonies and it is one of the primary reasons why the Fijian culture remains even in present times. Government rule developed over the next 100 years or so until the first major tears in the fabric occurred with labor strikes in 1959, which led to general elections in 1962. Fiji was then officially awarded it independence 1970.
