Sources & Resources

Annotated Bibliography

Bonnay, Charles. FIJI FIJI. [Charles Bonnay and Olivier de Kersauzon, photographs; English text adapted from the original French text by James Boyack] Papeete, Tahiti: Edition du Pacifique, 1972.
This book, while primarily pictures, gives a very good overview of Fiji, the many faces of Fijian people, and the different landscapes, flora & fauna of the islands that make up Fiji. It also touches briefly on important factors affecting Fiji & Fijians.

Goode, Erica. “Study Finds TV Alters Fiji Girls' View of Body.” New York Times, May 20, 1999.
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/20/world/study-finds-tv-alters-fiji-girls-view-of-body.html
A newspaper article detailing Dr. Anne E. Becker’s findings on the rapid shift in body image and social standing among teenage Fijian girls before and after the introduction of mostly American television.

Orbach, Susie. “Commentary: There is a public health crisis—its not fat on the body but fat in the mind and the fat of profits.” International Journal of Epidemiology, 2005. http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/35/1/67
This article explores at the ‘demonizing of fat’ in a culture of thin. It argues that the culture of thin is more damaging and quotes a study of Fijian girls from 1995 (Dr. Anne Becker) that demonstrated a correlation between viewing American television and an onset of eating disorders and negative body image.

Scarr, Deryck. Fiji: A Short History. Laie, Hawaii: The Institute of Polynesian Studies, 1984.
Just as the title suggests this book gives a brief history of Fijian history from ancient times to the later 20th century. In a narrative tone peppered with Fijian words, Scarr presents the first written history of Fiji.

Schwartz, Susan. “For Fijians, caregiving runs in family.” Press Democrat, September 23, 2008. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080923/LIFESTYLE/809170266/1034/NEWS?Title=For_Fijians__caregiving_runs_in_family
Highlighting the very nurturing side of Fijian culture, the articles touches on several interesting factors, namely that a growing number of Fijians are immigrating to the United States but there doesn’t seem to be an accurate count. Additionally, the article underscores the importance of family & family connections within Fijian culture.

Veramo, Joseph. Growing up in Fiji. Suva, Fiji: Institute of Pacific Studies and the Fiji Centre, University of the South Pacific, 1984.
While taking a very literal view of growing up – this small volume explains the many milestones of Fijian culture, how children & childhood are viewed and raised. All the information is presented next to/along side Western equivalents.


http://stuckinfijimud.blogspot.com/2008/06/fijians-in-america.html
An insightful news clip about Fijian immigrants living in the Washington DC area. Rather unusual in that it is produced by a Fijian television station. It includes a very interesting interview with a Fijian teenager and his views on the American education system.

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Pacific-Islander-Americans.html
An interesting page about Pacific Islander history and culture. It gives an abbreviated version of the history of the region in general.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5883335060
A Facebook page with a list of "You know you're a fijian when..." facts. Some are silly, others are enlightening.

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/
This is a great website with links to six separate Fiji radio stations that are active & listened to by Fijians around the world including the U.S. It also gives breaking news in Fiji. It’s a great resource for hearing the Fijian language and music from popular to classic. Radio Fiji 1 One is the Fijian National network, sponsored by the government under the Public Service Broadcast (PSB), all in Fijian it includes public, religious, cultural & cross-cultural programming as well as weather & disaster information. Radio Fiji Two is all in Hindi & the "Hindi public service broadcaster" covering music and programming for the Indo Fijians of Fiji. Bula-FM is broadcast all in Fijian and is the "Fijian pop station," including popular Fijian music and programming. Radio Mirchi is self proclaimed "the Rhythm of India," specializing in Hindi movie songs & hits from 1970s to 1990s, it appears to be all in Hindi but I cannot access it. Radio Fiji Gold's tagline "One great song after another,” sounds like an American classic rock station, broadcast in English & playing “adult contemporary” songs from 1960s to 90s and today. 2DayFM is the youth radio of Fiji, specializing in music from 1997 to today focusing on R&B, hip-hop, rap, pop, dance & reggae. It appears to be all in English.