Tabu and Fijian hair

From Wendy

Last week a group of local businessmen asked Peceli to join in a project to raise $5000 for charity to assist cancer research or the local hospital. The project was of course for them all to have a major haircut and become totally bald! Obviously they do not know about tabu and Fijian hair.

Now it is tabu to touch the hair of a Fijian for a start, so we discussed the idea and resolved to say no. The businessmen were surprised and just couldn't understand that 'tradition' was the excuse for not joining in!

Of course the young Fijian guys these days certainly have a variety of styles, 1st cut, short side and full on top etc. and even including going bald - middle-aged men as well, including turtle-oil loving Speight!

Young Fijian women today sometimes have short hair cuts, or long braids with beads, or colours! In a recent speech by a woman from the Ministry of Women in Fiji however there was a strong statement that Fijian women should remember to keep their hair in the traditional style and not to cut it short, not to wear shorts or pants but to wear a dress and long sulu!

In the olden days, hair styles were a major concern, bleached, straightened, multi-coloured, dread-locks. Here are a few pics taken from Jane Resture's website of old photos.