By Kite Pareti
The Rara Room at the Grand Pacific Hotel buzzes with excitement as families, friends and soon-to-be friends gather for one common purpose – the love for arts and crafts.
Hosted at the end of every month, the ‘Art & Sip’ events facilitated by Peter Sipeli, founder of Guided Walking Tours, Suva, attract both tourists and locals.
The classes involve learning traditional art forms like weaving baskets from coconut leaves and assembling flower garlands or salusalu. In July, Fiji Traveller had the chance to learn masi (tapa) making from the Matemosi sisters.
Hailing from the remote island of Kabara in the province of Lau, Koto and Ilisapeci Matemosi have been continuing the legacy of their late mother and artisan, Makereta Matemosi, who designed the iconic Fiji Airways logo.
“It was her goal then to share our masi art with foreigners and preserve it for the next generation,” shares Koto.
Conducting the masi class at the Grand Pacific Hotel has been a great opportunity, she adds.
“We normally would just sell masi, but having to teach people how to make it makes us feel good because we want to share what we treasure,” she said.
At the session I attended, participants made beverage coasters using various unique masi designs resembling flowers and stars. This design is called kesakesa and involves transferring black dye, made from mangroves and a special powder, onto a stencil that is laid on top of a cream-coloured paper made from mulberry bark.
Participants also enjoyed a delectable range of food and drinks at the event, including delicate cakes and cheese boards.
Koto noted: “Some of the participants said they were taking masi for granted, but after going through the experience of making it, they now know the value.”
From traditional wedding dresses to laptop cases and other accessories, the Matemosi sisters have already launched over 30 masi-themed products in the local market.
Koto said some of their accessories have been featured at the popular Makete Show held annually at the Suva Flea Market, with the support from Fijian fashion designer, Samson Lee.
“When [Samson Lee] would go overseas for fashion shows, they would normally order from us,” she said.
While running a handicraft business may present certain challenges, Koto believes artisans must continue to “showcase your work”.
“We have the passion…and the benefit behind this art is that we just keep on going,” she said.
