Meke: Traditional Fijian Dance: History, Meaning & Cultural Significance

When I first saw a Fijian dance at the Polynesian Cultural Center, I thought I would fall asleep. But each time I saw their performance, my appreciation grew for their songs, derua, and dances. I also grew to love the Fijian people. They are so giving, friendly, and take much pride in their culture.

Meke is the traditional style of dance, which is a combination of dance and story-telling through song. Both men and women perform in the meke, and the dance is viewed as a group collaboration in which men are expected to demonstrate strong, virile movements, while women are expected to be graceful and feminine.

There are several versions of the meke, such as the war dance, the men’s spear dance, the men’s or women’s fan dance and the sitting dance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUJqNq0GeXQ

The dancing and chanting are accompanied by rhythmic clapping and beating of the lali, a traditional Fijian drum.