The Art of Fijian Meke
Meke is considered the most impressive of all Fijian performing artistry. It's a broad term in the Fijian language referring to a plethora of traditional dances, Although varied in style, Meke continues to be an indispensable part of any truly local celebratory occasion, especially as guided by the older generations in attempts to preserve the storytelling of historic milestones.
Dance and music are woven into the canvas of Fiji with Meke embracing the legends, history and spirits of the islands. There are two groups in Meke: the vakatara, or orchestra, who sit on the ground and sing or chant; and the matana (dancers.) These two groups are arranged in rows with the music provided by the singers in front while the instrumentalists are seated behind.
As with most island nations, the instruments accompanying dances are percussions, such as hardwood gongs, bamboo tubes, beating sticks or a clapping sound with hallowed hands known as cobo. The dancers, if traditionally-oriented, wear colorful costumes with oral garlands and ornaments for women, and full warrior gear and body paint for men. An oddity to many Westerners is how audience members show their appreciation because it is not by applause but rather by verbalizing words of thanks and/or actually approaching the performers offering draped cloth, oils, powder, sweets and sometimes even cash.
Original versions of Meke segregate the genders but certain contemporary dances are mixed. Even so, males are to respect the warrior culture demonstrating strong and virile movements, while women are expected to adhere to the more stereotypical feminine with more subtle movements. These expectations are illustrated by three distinct types of Meke: the either/or gendered “sitting dance” (Vakamalolo), the women’s “fan dance” (Seasea) and the men’s “club dance” ( Meke I Wau).
In general, as with most cultural practices, Meke and Pacific dances simultaneously offer respect to tradition and are being inspired and infused with fresh ideas. “There is continuity with the past, but also evidence of cultural adaptation,” says Fijian native Vilsoni Herenko, a professor with the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawai‘i–Mānoa. “Fijian dance has been reinvigorated by techniques and styles that are free of traditional cultural constraints.” In other words, it is now possible to enjoy both the traditional and the more contemporary dances while visiting Fiji.
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Sanaa ya Fijian Meke Meke inachukuliwa kuwa ya kuvutia zaidi ya sanaa zote za utendaji wa Fiji. Meke ni neno la lugha ya Fijian linalomaanisha dansi nyingi za kitamaduni, ingawa ina mtindo tofauti, Meke inaendelea kuwa sehemu muhimu ya sherehe yoyote ya kienyeji, haswa kama inaongozwa na vizazi vya zamani katika majaribio ya kuhifadhi hadithi ya matukio ya kihistoria. Dansi na muziki zimeunganishwa katika canvas ya Fiji na Meke kukumbatia hadithi, historia na roho za visiwa. Kuna vikundi viwili katika Meke: vakatara, au okestra, ambao huketi ardhini na kuimba au kuimba; na matana (wacheza-dansi). Vikundi hivyo viwili vimepangwa katika safu na muziki hutolewa na waimbaji mbele huku wanamuziki wakiketi nyuma. Kama ilivyo na mataifa mengi ya visiwa, vyombo vinavyoambatana na dansi ni ngoma, kama vile gong za mbao ngumu, mirija ya mianzi, vijiti vya kupiga au sauti ya kupiga makofi kwa mikono mitakatifu inayojulikana kama cobo. Wanariadha, ikiwa ni wa kitamaduni, huvaa mavazi yenye rangi nyingi na shanga za mdomo na mapambo kwa wanawake, na mavazi kamili ya wapiganaji na rangi ya mwili kwa wanaume. "Kitu cha ajabu kwa watu wengi wa Magharibi ni jinsi watazamaji wanavyoonyesha uthamini wao kwa sababu sio kwa kupiga makofi bali kwa kusema maneno ya shukrani na au kwa kweli kuwafikia waigizaji wakitoa kitambaa, mafuta, poda, peremende na wakati mwingine hata pesa taslimu. """ Matoleo ya awali ya Meke hutenganisha jinsia lakini dansi fulani za kisasa zimechanganywa. Hata hivyo, wanaume wanapaswa kuheshimu utamaduni wa wapiganaji kuonyesha harakati kali na za kiume, wakati wanawake wanatarajiwa kushikamana na wanawake wa kawaida na harakati za hali ya chini. Matarajio haya yanaonyeshwa na aina tatu tofauti za Meke: ama ya kijinsia <unk>dansi ya kukaa<unk> (Vakamalolo), <unk>dansi ya mashabiki<unk> ya wanawake (Seasea) na <unk>dansi ya klabu<unk> ya wanaume (Meke I Wau). Kwa ujumla, kama ilivyo na mazoea mengi ya kitamaduni, dansi za Meke na Pacific wakati huo huo hutoa heshima kwa utamaduni na zinaongozwa na kuingizwa na mawazo mapya. "Kuna mwendelezo na zamani, lakini pia ushahidi wa marekebisho ya kitamaduni", anasema Vilsoni Herenko wa asili ya Fiji, profesa na Chuo Kikuu cha Media ya Ubunifu katika Chuo Kikuu cha Hawai'i Manoa. "Dansi ya Fiji imewekwa upya na mbinu na mitindo ambayo ni huru ya vizuizi vya kitamaduni vya jadi. "" Kwa maneno mengine, sasa inawezekana kufurahia dansi za jadi na za kisasa zaidi wakati wa kutembelea Fiji." Kuunda wakati wa kipekee ambao hubadilika kuwa kumbukumbu zenye kupendwa. Kutoka kwa matamasha ya pwani ya kawaida hadi uzoefu wa chakula cha jioni, vituo vyetu vya mapumziko vimejaa matukio ambayo yatakuondoa pumzi. Njia ya OUTRIGGER