For decades now the people of Mali Island saw that none of its children had successfully completed their education or secured a better job.

They believed it was a curse that was inherited from the past, passed down from generation to generation. So they decided to fast and pray to find the cause and the solution to this problem. After three years, their prayers were finally answered.

What they believed was the cause of the problem:

In the 1800’s, almost 200 years ago, a woman named Selina Bouta was buried alive by a couple in Mali because they said she was causing a lot of burdens to the village.

Selina Bouta was originally from Namoli village in Labasa and was married to a man from Nakawaga village on Mali Island.

They did not have any children and after her husband died she was looked after by the villagers. She was partially blind and was passed from house to house to be looked after until she came across the couple who buried her alive.

According to the stories that were passed on, Turaga ni Yavusa of Nakawaga Village Pita Buisere said from the dug grave, Selina, continued to yell out, she was still alive and why were they burying her.

Present Day:

The elders realised that something was amiss and recalled the story of Ms Bouta which might have been the cause of their misfortunes.

They believed that in order for their generation to rise up and become successful again, they had to do the ultimate iTaukei tradition of “sorosorovi/matanigasau” (To seek forgiveness) to the people of Namoli.

So 200 years later, last weekend, the people of Mali led by the Tui Mali performed this traditional reconciliation to correct the wrong that was done by their elders.

They presented three whales tooth with magiti and bales of clothes.

A member of the Namoli-I-cake clan, Aisake Voce, 63, said they had forgiven the people of Mali for the wrong their forefathers had committed and they wished the future generation of Mali a rewarding and prosperous future.

“From this day onward, we have come together and reconciled and we have forgiven them and all that was done,” he said.

Edited by Selita Bolanavanua

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