Photo: Traditional Kava Ceremony in the Traditional Masi dress
Introduction
The Adi Bua Festival is an Annual Event of the Bua Provincial Council in which all the 54 villages and 9 districts within the Province come together and take part in its fundraising drive towards the developments projects of the Council. Bua people residing in the urban centres of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are also part and parcel of this annual event.
Brief History of the Previous Event
The last fundraising event was held way back in 1998 at the Fiji Development Bank Foreshore Ground in Suva where all the people of Bua residing within the Province and/or residing in the urban areas converge to the ground by taking part in the “SOLI” for a worthy cause.
New Beginning
The annual fundraising event was revitalized in 2014 after a lapse of 15 years on the concurrence of the “BOSE VANUA” and the Bua Provincial Council Meeting. The event was held at the Provincial Ground from 30/10 – 31/10/14 and all the 9 Districts took part with the support of the Bua people living in urban centres. A total of $98,250.0 was collected during the two days of fundraising.
The second year of fundraising was held from 22/10 -23/10/15 again at the Provincial Ground in Nabouwalu. The 2015 collection had surpassed the 2014 collection by raising the sum of $170,871.67. This collection includes the donation of $70,000.00 by Mr. Robert Cromb of the Katalyst Foundation.
Annual Events Benefit and Funds Utilization
The annual event has attracted a lot of people to witness and take part in during the fundraising drive of the Council and had also renew traditional ties for the local communities with those living in urban centres.
Majority of the funds raised in 1998 were utilized in the settling of outstanding debts with the Banks on the “Naulumatua’ House Loan. Funds collected in 2014 & 2015 will used for the payment of Provincial Rates, bonuses for the “Turaga ni Koro & Matas” and expenses for the festival. Majority of the funds will be utilized in the payment of Tertiary Assistance for Bua students attending tertiary institutions by filling its appropriate forms.
The details of Funds collected in 2014 & 2015 are also below for easy reference.
Adi Bua Collection Report 2015
Adi Bua Collection Report 2014
Video Credit: Eferemo Kubunavanua