Coconut Trees
original
traditional story by
Tomasi
Lasekula
of
the Namosi Highlands of Fiji.
adapted into a traditional children’s story by
Leslie Westerlund
translated
into Fijian/Namosi dialect by
Virisila
Nailauota
of
the Namosi Highlands of Fiji.
Hey Tomasi, welcome to out humble village
Ei Tomasi, kidavaki iko kina neitou
koro vinaka
Your Language
it is so fortunate you pass on your travels
e ka marautaki niko rawa ni wavoki mai
ena nomui lakolako
Your Language
please rest at our bure
kerekere mo vakacegu mada ena neitou
bure
Your Language
please sit, have a bowl of yaqona
kerekere dabe, me dua vei iko na bilo
yaqona
Your Language
Hey Tomasi, have the first bowl of yaqona
Ei Tomasi, me memu na matai ni bilo ni
yaqona
Your Language
I hear you come from the highlands of Viti Levu
Au rogoca ni o gole mai na colo kei
Viti Levu
Your Language
I hear your clan has the coconut tree gift
Ka tiko ina nomu mataqali nai solisoli
ni vuni niu
Your Language
I hear you can bless the barren tree to fruit
Kau rogoca ni o rawa ni
vakalougatataka na vuni niu
Your Language
Hey Tomasi, we have great favour to ask of you
Ei Tomasi, dua tiko na kerekere levu
keitou via kerea
Your Language
for it is our blessed coconut trees
me baleta tiko na neitou vuniniu
vinaka
Your Language
for they grow big and bear no fruit
ka ni ra tubu levu ka sega ni vuataka
e dua na vuani niu
Your Language
please bless them to bear fruit
kerea moni vakalougataka mada me rawa
ni vua
Your Language
Hey brother,Tako, sanga sanga, no no
Ei taciqu Tako sega sega
Your Language
I am Tako, yes of the niu-coconut clan
O au na Tako, ka neitou kau ni mataqali
na niu
Your Language
I cannot bless them, only Lavo (my uncles or nephews)
Au sega ni rawa ni vakalougatataka o ratou
ga na Lavo
Your Language
I ask my son, visiting from Australia to help
Au na kerea na luvequ tagane gade tiko
mai ositerelia me veivuke
Your Language
Hey son, Lavo, please help your uncle Tako’s family
Ei luvequ Lavo kerekere vukei iratou
mada na vuvale
nei nomu momo (Tako)
Your Language
you know your ancient tribal blessing
iko kila nomu i solisoli ni
veivakalougatataki
Your Language
you know in your heart how to bless the coconut
iko kila ena
yalomu na kena vakalougatataki na veivuniniu
oqo
Your Language
you know you are Lavo, your generation can bless
iko kila nio iko na Lavo, na nomu kawa
e rawa ni veivakalougatataki
Your Language
Hey son, Lavo, let me help you learn to bless the nui
Ei luvequ, Lavo meu vukei iko mo
vulica na kena
vaka lougatataki na niu
Your Language
please take off your shirt and lean on the niu
kerea mo luvata na nomu sote ka ravita
na niu
Your Language
please go from tree to tree and lean on each niu
kerea mo na gole mai na dua na vuni
niu kina dua
tale ka ravita yadudua
Your Language
please believe and honour your tribal gift
mo vokabauta ka mareqeta nai solisoli
ka soli vei iko
Your Language
Hey son, the months pass by
Ei luvequ sa toso na gauna
Your Language
the niu, coconuts are now flowering and fruiting
na niu, sa se ka tekivu me vua
Your Language
our brother Tako’s Village is happy eating niu
o ganequ Tako e na koro e marau ni
kana niu
Your Language
the Lavo-Tako-Lavo coconut blessings are in the
mountains
of Namosi
o ratau na Lavo-Tako-Lavo Lewa/
vakalougatataki
niu era tiko ena colo kei Namosi
Your Language
