Fiji Music is the fusion of the traditional Melanesian and the Polynesian music as Fiji Island is mostly dominated under the influence of these two cultures. Folk Music is another important part of the
Fijian music and it comprises of vocal church music accompanied by the traditional dance forms.
The commonly used musical instruments of the Fijian are guitar, mandolin, ukulele along with there traditional indigenous musical instruments. Lali drums are the common one and they are used to call the local peoples of an area for gathering and it can be called as the medium of communication. Several kinds of lali drums are there and they are the announcing instruments of various social gatherings like wars and victories and even to birth and death but all the events follow different rhythmic patterns and they are audible from at least 8kms.Lali is mostly a rectangular block with a tapering end and its 75-100 cm in length..
As Fiji has large Indian community so the Indian music spectrum is quite developed in the
Fiji music and the most popular are the "Bhajans" and "Qawwali" from the Muslim community also forms its place quite well in the
music of Fiji .Mostly
Fijian music are indigenous and display the social parts of the
Fiji Culture and the most toughest and the complex form is "Meke" and in this Fiji Music both voice and dance are combined. Co-ordination is an important factor in Meke and the men perform vigorous dance pattern while the women display graceful dance postures and body movement.
Fiji Music Composition often varies but it is composed in the very western style music. Traditional and ritual patterns are followed while composing the
Fiji Music. Thus the
Fiji Music is a reflection of the
Fiji culture and tradition and it is depicted in vivid forms like war songs, spear dances and often in the very gentle in the Meke style.
