It is important to know your identity.

This is one the many lessons that 36-year-old Koto Matemosi of Kabara in Namuka-i-Lau learned from her late mother.

“Mum has always been my role model and inspiration. I have learned a lot from her,” Ms Matemosi said.

“She took pride in her identity and that is something that she taught me to always remember.”

Ms Matemosi started learning Masi printing from her late mother when she was still a young girl.

She continued her mother’s journey of making traditional art after her mother died in 2015.

“I was still in school, and I followed my mother around helping her with her small businesses then

“Mum was really in love with making traditional art, especially the designs from Namuka-i-Lau because it described her identity, and that really inspired me.”

She said that youths today must learn to take pride in their identity.

“I love the inspiration from my mum because it helps me to know more about my traditional background and culture as an iTaukei woman,” Ms Matemosi said.

“My mum didn’t believe in making money, but inspiring the world in believing that Fijian women can make a difference in Masi making platform.”

Ms Matemosi was among the 50 artisans who received their Fijian Crafted Licences on Saturday.

Her mother Makereta Matemosi was the woman behind the Fiji Airways logo.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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