IB Reporter

By Prerna Priyanka In a vibrant display of talent and creativity, MATA Dance Crew, a creative dance company based in Suva, is gearing up to captivate audiences at the Fiji Fringe Festival on March 23, 2024. Founded by Tevita Tobeyaweni in 2019, MATA Dance has become a trailblazer in the Fiji dance scene, aiming to […]

By Prerna Priyanka In a captivating intersection of art, environmental awareness, and cultural storytelling, Mere Nailatikau and Amer Kanngieser are set to launch their groundbreaking exhibition, “Oceanic Refractions.” The exhibition, which originated from a serendipitous encounter in Suva five years ago, promises a unique sensory experience that delves into the Pacific’s environmental challenges through the […]

In Fiji, a group of 15 dedicated women has been doing their part to create a circular economy by turning plastic trash into cash. Based in the coastal village of Galoa, the Bulikula Women’s Plastics Group was formed four years ago.  With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), […]

By Prerna Priyanka As anticipation for the Fiji Fringe Festival builds, one name stands out among the performers—Skillz Fj, the Sunshine Coast based musician, and a proud advocate for his unique heritage. Since migrating to Australia in 2020, Samuela Konusi Taukave (aka Skillz Fj) has seen his musical career, powered by his vibrant personality and […]

By Prerna Priyanka International musical theatre star Matt Young, known for his versatile performances on stage and screen, brings his one-man cabaret show, CIRCUS CARNIVAL CABARET, to the Fiji Fringe Festival in March. An evening of musical comedy and storytelling, the show tells the fascinating tale of family circus in the Australian outback town of […]

By Prerna Priyanka Jordan Rooks returns to the Fiji Fringe Festival this year with a new show, an all-new family-friendly Aladdin parody magic show, 3 MAGIC WISHES. Rooks has been practicing magic since the age of 13, after a chance encounter with a magician at a restaurant. He has since found his passion for magic […]

Sports enthusiasts can look forward to seeing top-tier rugby action as the popular McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast Sevens makes its return this week.  Originally designed to boost tourism during the off-season, the tournament has evolved under the leadership of founder Jay Whyte, expanding to include Women’s and Youth Divisions in 2014 and 2017, respectively.  This […]

By Kalinga Seneviratne I arrived in Samoa for a recent long weekend not knowing what to expect. For a start, my flight from Nadi touched down at 1:00am at the Apia international airport. I was surprised to see the immigration officers and other airport staff looking fresh and the taxi stand outside was also a […]

By Prerna Priyanka Tourism Fiji has joined forces with Mastercard to offer surfing enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the waves of Cloudbreak with three-time world champion surfer, Mick Fanning. The exclusive week-long trip at Namotu Island Surf Resort has already captured the imagination of global surfing fans. Now, in a unique twist, Tourism Fiji […]

From the moment the first artist in A Dance in 5 Installations slinks along the top of a wall and launches himself onto aerial silks, you are transported on a powerful journey. Choreographer Glenville Lord says the work represents the full circle of his experience, starting as a junior dancer at the Oceania Centre, working […]

By Prerna Priyanka In a ground-breaking initiative aiming for inclusivity in the arts, the Fiji run of MAMMA MIA! The Musical is gearing up for a special ‘accessible performance’ on February 10, 2024. Directed by Michael Payer, this rendition of MAMMA MIA! promises to dazzle audiences while serving as a platform for local talent. The […]

By Anirban Mahapatra After almost an hour of navigating through lagoons flanking the southern coastline of Kadavu island, the dive boat finally reaches a rocky channel that provides a way out of the submerged mountain walls of the Great Astrolabe Reef. As it cautiously steers around barnacled boulders strong enough to breach battleships, the colour […]

The third Pacific Human Rights Film Festival starts tomorrow at the University of the South Pacific’s Japan ICT Performance Theatre in Suva with an important film about rugby in the Pacific.  The opening film is Oceans Apart, which will be screening in Fiji for the first time. Festival Director, Ben Wheeler, says this year’s festival […]

VegFest Fiji 2023 starts tonight, and at this year’s event you can learn how to make vinegar and kombucha, share brunch with your children, or go vegan at some of Suva’s most loved restaurants. This evening’s opening event, a dinner at Lami Novotel, is by invitation. But the rest of the program is open to […]

By Vittoria Pasca The plant-based dining scene has been steadily growing in Suva in the last few years, thanks to the opening of new vegetarian restaurants and eateries, and an increasing number of traditional restaurants adding tasty vegan-friendly dishes to their menu. Here are some options to check out. Health Veggie Restaurant  Equally popular among […]

Maui Bay on Fiji’s Coral Coast is a popular refuelling stop for both petrol (the TOTAL station is open 24/7) and stomachs on the Nadi-Suva highway. It is known for two landmarks, its spectacular long jetty—site of many amateur photo shoots—and a wall exploding with colourful frangipani and bougainvillea, that shields some of the area’s […]

Fiji will host its first-ever National Rugby League match next year, thanks to Fiji Airways’ sponsorship of the Melbourne Storm team. “2024 will see Fiji Airways enter into new sponsorships and partnerships that capture audiences, not only in the Pacific, but across the globe,” the airline’s Chief Executive, Andre Viljoen, said at the launch of […]

By Samantha Magick A new detective novel set in Fiji brings to life a time rarely discussed beyond academic texts; the experiences of Indian labourers under Girmit. A Disappearance in Fiji follows Akal Singh, a 25-year-old Sikh police officer, sent to Fiji in disgrace after an indiscretion in his previous posting of Hong Kong. He […]

Discovering the Nabukavesi River By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti Nature Fiji-MareqetiViti’s ‘Meandering Mates’ adventure for children and their families in the highlands of Namosi is a window to understanding the area’s rich biodiversity, and how it is under threat. The organisation’s vision is for a healthy environment that maintains its diversity of species, habitats, ecological integrity, and […]

By Kite Pareti As a teenager, Nilesh Chand dreamt of becoming a car mechanic. But life took a different route when he and his family left his hometown to find greener pastures. “I’m originally from Tavua. When we moved to Nadi, I joined the hotel industry and started working as a commis [novice] chef,” he […]

By Elizabeth Kolivuso The Frank Hilton Organisation raised over FJ$17,000 in partnership with the Shivas Regal Project through a charity concert fundraiser that was held in Brisbane last month. This was the first ever fundraiser for the organisation to be held outside of Fiji. The Frank Hilton Organisation provides essential health and support services to […]

On the sidelines of Fiji’s biggest soccer tournament at HFC Bank Stadium, hundreds of people from a remote island in Fiji have gathered at the stadium’s car park to celebrate their cultural roots. Vanuabalavu (or long island) is part of the Lau group of islands, just east of Viti Levu. Vanuabalavu has 17 villages, all […]

By Elizabeth Kolivuso Fiji’s ‘Vude Queen’ will become the dancing queen as the star of iconic hit musical, Mamma Mia, when it is staged in Fiji next year. Laisa Vulakoro will star in Mamma Mia in February, which is being presented alongside the second Fiji Fringe Festival as part of Arts Season 2024.  The Fiji […]

By Alipate Pareti The Spartan Games has earned the reputation of being the world’s leading obstacle race course and it is coming to Fiji this year. Spartans were one amongst the most feared and formidable forces in the ancient Greek world, withstanding the Persian Empire to their last breath. You may recall learning about Sparta […]