Page "Culture of Fiji" Paragraph 73

An indigenous art form is the Meke, which may incorporate the seasea ( women's fan dance ) or a meke wesi ( men's spear dance ).

It is usually a narrative of an important event such as a war, a chiefly installation, or even a scandal.

Some mekes are generations old, and form an important part of Fiji's oral history.

In olden times, the meke was considered to be an oracle from the gods, and the Dau ni vucu, or composer, would often go into a trance before a performance.

Others are modern, composed for a particular event, much as a poet laureate might write a poem to celebrate an event in a Western country.