Mana mai Viti — Mana of the Fijians

The Need by Dr Mike Gosling

Our poor, disadvantaged, and needy people in Fiji need hope, love, and service more than ever. FijiLIFE Foundation is an Australian Registered DGR Charity founded in 2021 to bring better living better life to Fijians.

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March 23, 2023

From Fiji Fantastic by Tony Snowsill — To Buy Now — [CLICK HERE]

“Mana is too subjective to have a place in the legal system where certainty is a priority outcome.” NZ inquiry.

“What is mana in the eyes of the law? How would a court define mana? A theological court may well define the soul, but such a definition would easily be defeated in a court of law.” NZ inquiry.

I define ‘mana’ as ‘yaco dina na kena inaki,’ – Paul Geraghty

‘vakamanamanataka,’ meaning ‘make mana’ or ‘make effective’ sau (spiritual power).

The winds are the children of the great gods – J Patterson discussing Mana.

Early missionaries to Fiji found to their astonishment that Fijians, for generations before Christianity, had a religion headed by one God; and later discovered to their amazement that the many gods worshiped by these cannibal savages were but manifestations of the one god they worshiped. The missionaries spent their time thereafter trying to secrete that which they had discovered because they were loathed to admit that such cannibals had the one God. Researched by T Snowsill.

For Mauss (1972), Mana was a socially generated force universally underlying senses of magical efficacy, in fact encompassing the ‘sacred’ generally.

Levi-Strauss, expanding upon Mauss, suggested that Mana is ‘a universal and permanent form of thought’ arising from an imbalance between symbolism and knowledge, what he awkwardly called ‘a non-equivalence or ‘inadequation’ … a non-fit and overspill’ between signifiers and signified (1987: 53, 60, 62).

In one academic article written in the mid 1800s I found this about old Fiji in the discussion of weapons – : “Human kills were indicated by the inlaying of human teeth or ivory around the head, or by the cutting of notches on the grip. A weapon with many kills to its credit was thought to have achieved its own ‘mana,’ with power and life of its own. Apparently, the most common type of weapon in Fiji is a type of spear known as the lau. With a tip most commonly made of sharpened ivory or rock, the lau may not seem that imposing in the hands of one man, but multiply that one man by 1,000 and you get a weapon of some magnitude”.

In researching numerous academic articles I have concluded the following some of which may appear contradictory:

“Does the belief in a Creator God ultimately take faith? Yes. But it takes a lot less faith than the belief in none”. Unknown.

The Maori have a slightly different perception of MANA than do the Fijians.

In Levi-Strauss’ structuralist universe, where humanity endlessly reshuffles categories of identification and opposition, ‘a surplus of signification’ is inevitable in cultural projects Mana is a ‘floating signifier,’ absorbing such surplus signification. That is, according to Levi-Strauss, it is ‘devoid of meaning and thus susceptible of receiving any meaning at all,’ and he goes on to characterize it as ‘a symbol in its pure state’ (55, 64).

Source Retheorizing mana: Bible translation and discourse of loss in Fiji. Matt Tomlinson. Oceania 76.2 (July 2006): p.173 (13).

“Those who do not understand Fijian and Pacific Island traditions are unable to give literal credibility to the metaphysical theories associated with Fijian traditions”. As researched by Tony Snowsill.

“We cannot expect the English language suggestion of “ Mana” will be exactly or near the same as the true Fijian meaning or indeed similar to the meanings of other pacific islanders who hold Mana” as sacrosanct”. Tony Snowsill.

Mana – the treasure of the ancients – not a substance –but a feature of a type of relationship or fellowship – J Patterson.

So it is that all these words are written so as to try to explain the Mana of the Kai Viti (Fijian) and that of many of those born in Fiji.

Mana – the magic

But it is more!

e’ dina

(it is true)

My Son

Mana:

involves

Yalo – the soul

Sau – spiritual power

Mana the word used by “savages.”

BC.

A supernatural force within

The divine spirit in man

Flowing inside

An essence of nature

Transcends imagination

Is beyond our conscious understanding

Can be;

the worst evil

or greatest good.

An ontogenetic process of kinship

Acquired by;

talented use

from old gods

co-operation or conquest;

By an intelligent, just and productive life

and Mana

Gives unique powers of communication

linking many Fiji born.

To some small extent natural

Ingrained, inherent, innate

Instinctive, later intrinsic

Developable from childhood

Gifted by society

Cannot be taught

One cannot take it for oneself

Neither can you receive it

Cannot be inherited

It’s either there or it isn’t

Is community wide

A sensory perception.

It is gained by;

close associations

love of similar interests, lifestyles, conduct.

Gained not given!

A presence from within

Worn like a cloak

Enshrouds the bearer without

Created out of nothing

Can vanish without trace

Does not involve charisma

Can be a product of life experiences

Wisdom.

A sense of belonging

Attraction

Astonishing affinity

A miracle that causes wonder

Being able to identify as kin

Being one another’s kinfolk

With a specific compassion for Kai Viti

Amongst Fiji’s children

Being a child of Fiji.

Provides a close relationship with;

the land (vanua)

the sea (wai tui)

flora and fauna

Self.

Including, but more than:

Being performed by thought

Miraculous power

Pervading through the air

Power from spirits

Standing well with God

Founded on wisdom

Being able to achieve one’s goals

with graciousness, authority and dignity

Capturing sublimely

Enraptured divinely

Conspicuous serenity, affinity, infinity

Fusing place and soul

but

to some

Must be avenged!

Undeniably;

A manifold relationship with kin

Empathy between peers and nobles

Respect, power, prestige

Mutual compassion

Heartfelt laughter, love, pity

Embodied compassion for another

A libidinal structure which grounds self and other

Prized fellowship

Crosses all boundaries

Essentially relational

Fundamentally a reality

An animating life-force

Providing influence and authority

An affinity with like persons

Natural love for one another

A special humility

A quality of spirit that commands respect

Binds our existence

Bonds stronger than blood.

MANA

Tony Snowsill. June/July 2007

To Buy Now – [Click Here]

Description by Tony Snowsill

Full colour photos abound. Fiji born author reviews the opinions of others regarding the Fijian Gods & culture of pre-Christian Fiji and suggests a differing viewpoint. The book subtly advocates keeping an open mind on many aspects of our lives today and provides a local’s insight into the “real Fiji” soon after the missionaries arrived. Fijian traditions and culture are presented in prose and poetry. Lessons observed and learnt during the author’s childhood and early adulthood in Fiji are similarly expressed.

The book also recognises the importance of the ANZAC Traditions in Australia, New Zealand &Fiji & commemorates those who paid the supreme sacrifice & those who served.

This book will make an excellent gift to friends or relatives or keepsake to those who have visited Fiji or intend visiting.

This book is printed to the following specifications and this corrects any other descriptions. Sydney, Australia’s Printer’s language

“Fiji Fantastic Book Perfect Bound Booklets / 4pp Cover Printed on Incada 280gsm Silk with Gloss Celloglaze on Outside 96pp Text Section Printed Full Colour on 200gsm Matt Art :Trimmed and Perfect Bound to Finished Size 210*150mm”

ISBN: 978 0 646 49236 0 (hbk.)

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