2018-10-24 Wed

On 10th October 1970 Fiji Island issued the first stamps of after the independence! A set of four stamps were issued which include their king, head of the state, the future generation as well as the traditional art form.

The 25c stamp features the traditional dance form of the Fiji Island. Known as Meke, this dance is performed by both men and women but in different groups. Music is woven into the fabric of Fijian life and the Meke embraces traditional song and dance to tell of legends, love stories, history and spirits of the islands.

There are two groups in the Meke - the orchestra (Vakatara), who sit on the ground and sing or chant for the second group, the dancers (Matana). Instruments of hardwood gongs, bamboo tubes, beating sticks etc are used to make the music. All performers wear garlands of flowers (Salusalu). The men don full warrior costume and the women in traditional clothes, glisten with scented coconut oil.

The stamp depicts both man and a woman performing the dance in traditional costumes along with a traditional instrument. The right part of the stamp depicts the left facing bust of Queen Elizabeth with the denomination and the name of the country below it. Below the feet of the dancers, the stamp is inscribed with the words “INDEPENDENCE 1970” denoting the independence of the country.

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com