Zahabia Khan
Co President
Kajal Mishra
Co President
Rupi Chandra
Vice President External
Aashton Prasad
Vice President Internal
Sohani Aggarwal
Vice President of Marketing
Arin Hash
Vice President of Events
Kayden Singh
Vice President of Finance
Bula UBC!
Welcome to the Fijian Student Association at the University of British Columbia. We are here to demonstrate the vibrant culture of Fiji that we can't wait to showcase all UBC students and FJSA members.
We are here to help build a community for all Fijian and educate those who are interested to learn about Fijian culture.
Fijian culture and history are rich, diverse, and deeply rooted in the traditions of the indigenous iTaukei people, as well as the influence of colonial history, and modern-day multiculturalism.
The Fijian islands were first settled around 3,000 years ago by Melanesian and later Polynesian people; the combination helped create a unique Fijian society. Fiji was organized into small and independent tribes. Warfare between rival chiefs, or “ratu” was common, and alliances and conflicts shaped the political landscape playing a crucial role in governance, land and culture.
The first European to document Fiji was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1643, followed by British explorer James Cook in the 1770s. By the mid-1800s, Christian missionaries played a significant role in converting large portions of the population. In 1874, Fiji became a British colony after internal conflicts and pressure from the British settlers who sought out Fiji as an opportunity to expand their empire. Between 1879 and 1916, British colonial authorities brought Indian labourers from Calcutta to work on sugar plantations under the indenture system. The indenture system has had a profound impact on Fiji's demography, as many Indians remained to live in Fiji. This caused a divided society between the indigenous Fijians and the Indo-Fijians. Fiji gained independence from Britain in 1970, ushering a period of political tension and an observable unique cultural landscape.
What does Fiji culture look like today? Fijian, English, and Hindi are the three dominant languages in Fiji. Rugby is the most popular sport in Fiji, and the country is known for its strong rugby union and rugby sevens teams which have won Olympic gold. Traditional Fijian dances, called Meke, involve storytelling through movement, song, and rhythm. It’s a key expression of cultural history and legends. Ceremonial traditions also play a crucial aspect in Fijian culture such as kava, lovo, and tabua are prime examples.
Fijian culture and history are marked by resilience, adaptation, and a strong sense of community.
The Fijian Student Association is still a fairly new club that started in September 2023. Here at FJSA we have hosted two events: our first Welcome Social and South Asian Community Night.
Last year, November 2023, we had the privilege to host our first event at the AMS Nest. Together we put together a night for everyone to socialise and learn about Fijian culture. We provided Fijian food and talked about Fijian history and art. We even had our own inspired Fijian games.
Secondly, our popular event: South Asian Community Night, was a collaboration between FJSA and five other clubs. The night was filled with performances and acts put together by students who all had their own cultural backgrounds.
In 2024, we want as an association to continue to carry out more and better fun events for all our members.
Zahabia Khan
Co President
Kajal Mishra
Co President
Rupi Chandra
Vice President External
Aashton Prasad
Vice President Internal
Sohani Aggarwal
Vice President of Marketing
Arin Hash
Vice President of Events
Kayden Singh
Vice President of Finance