The burning of Fijian artefacts in Namoli Village in Lautoka raises several issues that warrant discussion

One is the declaration that it had lifted a curse on the village that had existed for generations.

The second is the destruction of items that are regarded sacred and an integral part of iTaukei cultural heritage.

Curse

It is claimed that there was a curse on the village that had stopped the villagers from prospering spiritually and temporally.

It is also claimed that it was linked to witchcraft and sorcery.

A Christian group, Livai Ministry, which conducted the burning as a “spiritual cleansing” is practising freedom of religion guaranteed by our Constitution.

If we go by what the Turaga-ni-Koro and the paramount chief had said, it meant that they had blamed their failures to progress on this imaginary curse.

This is a feeble excuse and a dangerous one because it perpetuates low self esteem, a sense of hopelessness, self pity, inferiority complex, laziness and mediocrity.

It’s an easy way out for those who are not prepared to do the hard work and sacrifice to achieve a goal whether to gain an academic qualification, secure a job or start a business.

The apostle James, writing in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, says faith without work is dead. It’s a simple divine doctrine which holds all of us accountable to our words, deeds and thoughts.

It branches off one of the most sacred gifts God has given to each of us – the freedom to choose.

When we choose to work hard, study hard and train hard, we will reap the rewards whether there is a perceived curse or not. That’s an eternal law.

It comes with patience and perseverance. Then there are those who choose to do the opposite and blame their ancestors, parents and others for their current predicament.

In the Namoli case it would be interesting to find out how many were actually involved in satanic practices

They would answer for their activities. The others would not be unfairly penalised so they could not say that their failure was because of the curse. They should not use it as an excuse for not doing well.

This attitude gives rise to self pity, which produces low self esteem and a defeatist mind. It tends to blame others for failures.

Items that were burnt at the village in the presence of representatives of all the Christian denominations in the district of Vitogo.

Traditional artefacts

The destruction of traditional artefacts such as tabua is also a matter of concern. The tabua, for example, is quite hard to find now and is expensive to buy. It is part of sacred Fijian traditional wealth and heritage.

Some Christian churches disagree with the method of “spiritual cleansing”. They say burning of items is physical. It won’t guarantee a spiritual change of heart. But the church doing the spiritual cleansing says it is an outward manifestation of the spiritual side to the issue.

If this movement grows and takes a life of its own will it eventually undermine the use of yaqona or kava and tabua in traditional Fijian ceremonies?

Most importantly, one issue that has been exposed is that we can determine our own destiny by our own choices and work not by the action of others.

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