A new literary initiative at the Fiji Museum is being celebrated as a significant advancement in fostering cultural pride, enhancing creative opportunities, and encouraging Fijian communities to connect more deeply with their heritage. Titled *Poetry and Prose at the Fiji Museum*, the book features contributions from ten local writers associated with Poetry Shop Fiji. Each writer selected a museum artifact as inspiration to create a unique poem or story.
Although the publication highlights artistic talent, its broader impact is evident in the way it empowers ordinary Fijians. Charlotte Darlow, the New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, emphasized this community-centric benefit, stating, “The importance of this project is that it is about Fijian poets and Fijian writers, giving them the chance to publish in the country. They don’t need to write for a foreign audience; they can write for themselves.”
This local focus allows Fijians to see their own experiences, values, and histories reflected in the literature, thereby strengthening cultural identity and encouraging wider participation in writing and sharing stories. Artist Brittany Nawaqatabu, whose work *Threats Across the Sea* explores her Chinese-Fijian heritage, remarked on the project’s ability to inspire individuals to investigate their roots and understand the shared narratives that contribute to Fiji’s uniqueness.
Fiji Museum’s Manager of Experience, Lata Yaqona, noted that the project helps demystify museum objects for the public. “People often think museum objects are anonymous, but they’ve been brought alive through the work showcased here tonight,” she said. The initiative aims to make cultural learning more accessible to families, students, and communities who may not typically engage with museums, breathing new life into artifacts to render them relevant and relatable for future generations.
Funded by the New Zealand High Commission, this project also creates new avenues for Fijian artists, helping them build confidence, develop portfolios, and pursue viable career paths in writing and the creative arts. The initiative not only enriches the cultural landscape of Fiji but also cultivates a vibrant community of storytellers, reinforcing the importance of local narratives in the nation’s identity.