The achievements of the Fijian national rugby team include winning gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The most popular form of rugby within Fiji is the seven aside, and their national team is one of the most successful in the world. The British are credited with introducing rugby to Fiji during the period when Fiji was under their rule. The residents of Fiji hold rugby in high regard as it is the national sport. 6) Rugby is the most important sport in Fiji.
In some regions, Kava is referred to as Yaqona. Kava is an essential component of Fijian culture, and an elaborate ceremony is usually performed during the drinking of Kava.
The citizens of Fiji believe that the drink has numerous medicinal qualities particularly in the treatment of insomnia, headaches, and stress. The major ingredient in the making of Kava is the ground root of a plant that belongs to the pepper family. One of the most iconic beverages from Fiji is referred to as Kava and not only is it a traditional drink but it is the country's national drink. At nearly 200 different dialects, Fijian has more dialects spoken on the island than any of the other official languages.ĥ) Fiji has a traditional drink known as Kava.
A large number of English speakers in Fiji makes it easy for tourists to communicate with the residents. English is one of the subjects taught within the Fiji education system which ensures the country's residents can converse in the language. The official languages of communication within Fiji, according to the nation's constitution, include English, Fijian, and Fiji Hindi. 4) Fiji is one of the few nations to have three official languages. Some of the most famous Fijians of Indian descent include Hafiz Khan and Joy Ali. The descendants of the Indian laborers have succeeded in some fields such as sports and politics. Most of the Indians who arrived in Fiji came to the island to work as laborers in some industries, particularly in the sugarcane sector. The recorded history of Indians in Fiji dates back to 1813 when an Indian sailor survived a shipwreck and lived the remainder of his life among the natives of Fiji. 3) Fiji has a large Indian population.Ī large section of Fiji's population traces its descent to India particularly the regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Other areas with significant British influences in Fiji include the legal and parliamentary systems. The impact of British rule in Fiji is readily visible in most areas with the national flag being one of the most notable examples. British control over the area formally started after a number of the highest ranking traditional Fijian chiefs such as Ma'afu and Cakobau signed the Deed of Concession. Another of Fiji's islands with a significant population is the island of Vanua Levu.įor nearly a century beginning in 1874, the British government ruled over the territory of Fiji. The largest proportion of the inhabitants of Viti Levu live along the island's coast since the interior is not as habitable due to the terrain.
The residents of Fiji reside in 110 of the nation's biggest islands with Viti Levu having the most significant population. Most of Fiji's islands and islets owe their formation to volcanic activity which began occurring in the region approximately 150,000,000 years ago. Apart from a large number of islands, Fiji also has at least 500 islets. Here are 10 other facts about Fiji you might not know: 1) Fiji is composed of more than 300 islands.įiji's territory is comprised of 332 islands although some sources have indicated that there are 333 islands. The warm nature of the Fijians is one of the reasons the nation has a large tourism sector. Fijian culture places a huge emphasis on friendship which is the main reason the residents are so welcoming to foreigners. The residents warmly greet people they come into contact with regardless of whether or not they know each other. The people of Fiji are some of the warmest and most welcoming in the world which regularly surprises visitors to the nation. Fiji is a nation that occupies 7,056 square miles within the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most popular countries in the region.