The Centre for Indigenous Studies organized a workshop from June to July, 2010 to train writers and to start the production of materials suitable for the foundation of Fijian literature. The workshop, which lasted for eight days was intended to be part of a series of workshops to ultimately produce a Fijian literature. Consultations with the Ministry of Education identified the great need for resources in the teaching and learning of the Fijian language and culture in schools, especially at the secondary school level. Very little material in the Fijian language or literature exists for students at this level. This is also the case for Foundation students at this university.
One of the major contributing factors to this lack of written resources in Fijian is the lack of people who have the knowledge and skills to write books in the Fijian language.
This workshop was part of a plan to begin producing materials suitable to the needs of young Fijian adults. There were two parts to the workshop. The first part was devoted to learning the process of writing and how to write, and the second part was actual writing by the participants. The resource people who participated in the workshop were Professor Satendra Nandan, one of the best known writers in Fiji today; Associate Professor Ken Nobin, who inspired all the participants to write their memoirs; Associate Professor Cliff Benson, Fiji’s best known text-book writer; Mr Alifereti Nasokia, also a participant, who shared his experience as a non-fiction writer through his research; Mr Usaia Gaunavou with his wide experience of teaching Fijian Literature at Teachers’ College and here at the University of Fiji, and Mrs Salome Rokuta, who helped the participants to understand Fijian poetry better.
More information here.
One of the major contributing factors to this lack of written resources in Fijian is the lack of people who have the knowledge and skills to write books in the Fijian language.
This workshop was part of a plan to begin producing materials suitable to the needs of young Fijian adults. There were two parts to the workshop. The first part was devoted to learning the process of writing and how to write, and the second part was actual writing by the participants. The resource people who participated in the workshop were Professor Satendra Nandan, one of the best known writers in Fiji today; Associate Professor Ken Nobin, who inspired all the participants to write their memoirs; Associate Professor Cliff Benson, Fiji’s best known text-book writer; Mr Alifereti Nasokia, also a participant, who shared his experience as a non-fiction writer through his research; Mr Usaia Gaunavou with his wide experience of teaching Fijian Literature at Teachers’ College and here at the University of Fiji, and Mrs Salome Rokuta, who helped the participants to understand Fijian poetry better.
More information here.
