Strong. Resilient. Powerful. Too much. Not enough.

These are only some of the words and phrases I’ve usually heard when describing the Fijian Woman.

Today I saw just how unique, graceful and life giving she truly is.

I come from the Fijian Woman. Mine in particular is named Vilimaina. And she from another Fijian Woman. Her name is Laisayani. She is 97.

And Christmas 2024 was spent with some of those in her lineage and bloodline. She is the only surviving daughter of one Sitiveni Gonevou and Merewairita Naihola. She is one of six children.

The creases on her skin tell of a story that has existed in two different centuries. Decades of memories etched into her sunken eyes. She still stands strong. She is a little more frail today than ever before in my lifetime. Her hands hold years of carrying and lifting future generations.

Today I saw her bloodline trickle down to my generation and cry out with a familiar voice that this Christmas we needed to know the Fijian woman that we come from. We needed to know who our relatives are so that we don’t pass them on the street and just think of them as another. They are us and we are them. This is one family.

From one Fijian Woman is laced the courage to step into new territory to proclaim that we are family.

From one Fijian Woman is the opportunity to bear children that will carry our past, present and future to the world and share us with those who are unfamiliar with this kind of love, this kind of hope, this kind of generational blessing.

This is the power of the Fijian Woman.

Where she comes from, who she marries, whose children she carries. She is us and we all belong to her.

The Fijian Woman.

She is enough. She is just right. She is powerful. She is resilient. She is strong. She is the Fijian Woman.

Reflection of Christmas 2024 in Dayala, Nadroga, Fiji.

Est. 1927 through Laisayani Lewamulo