Context (CMS Context)
This tape is referenced as 'A 1. GONG BEATING. LAU: 9 gong beats, specially recorded at Suva. May, 1957. 005-399. LAU: (Tumbou): actuality record of No. 7 by Fiji Broadcasting Commission. August 1955. 400-555.' (see Roth's original list, MAA, Doc.385).
17/01/2013
Created by: Lucie Carreau on 17/01/2013

Context (CMS Context)
This audio recording belongs to a series of 20 tapes recorded by George Kingsley Roth in Fiji in the 1950s, on Scotch Magnetic recording tapes, single track, 15min, 600 feet. The tapes record Fijian (and occasionally Tongan) songs and musical instruments and range from live recording, arranged recording and copies of recordings made by the Fiji Broadcasting Commission. The tapes were brought to MAA for safekeeping in 2001 shortly after Mrs Jane Roth's death by Mrs Sue Stobbs, her neighbour. They were digitised by the World Oral Literature Project (WOLP) in 2012 and accessioned into MAA's collection in 2013.
14/01/2013
Created by: maa on 14/01/2013

Description (CMS Description)
Recording of lali drums/gongs beating: nine gong beats collected by [?]Ulaosi vosabalavu of Kabara Island in the Lau Group, recorded in Suva in May 1957 + two additional beats.
1) Nalalinikaci. Used to call the strong men together to defend the village when the enemy has been sighted, order the women, the children & the old men to get away into the bush or caves and summon friendly villages nearby to come to their help. Large gong only. [0.50 - 1.43]
2) [?] Nalalinisakamoteduakoro. Used when a village has been burnt. Both gongs used. [1.44 - 2.55]
3) Nalalinibokola. Used when a body is brought to be eaten. Both gongs used. [2.56 - 3.37]
4) Nalalinivuki. Invitation to other villages to become Christian, otherwise they will be attacked. Large gong only. [3.38 - 4.19]
5) Nalaliniwate. Mark the end of fighting and the return of peace. Nowadays [in the 1950s] used to summon people to church. Both gongs used. [4.20 - 5.26]
6) Nalalinisoromasumasu. Used to call people together early in the morning for worship & prayers. One man beats both gongs. [5.27 - 6.07]
7) Nalalivakaturaga. Used to let chief know it is time to assemble for discussion or feasting. Both gongs used. [6.08 - 7.25]
8) Nalalinimate. Used to announce that the corpse of a dead chief has left his house. The beating is continued until the corpse reaches the burial place. One man beats each gong or one man for both. [7.26 - 8.35]
9) Nalalinitabu. Announced a prohibition on making noise in a village. Nowadays [in the 1950s], used for announcing the time for children to go to bed or for yaqona drinking to stop. Large gong only. [8.36 - 9.37]
10) Repetition of beat number 2 [stops at 10.50].
11) Actuality record (live reporting) of a ceremony involving the Tui Lau, made by the Fiji Broadcasting Commission, in Tubou, Lakeba Island, Lau Group in August 1955 and demonstrating Beat number 7. [10.50 - 13.43]
14/01/2013
Created by: maa on 14/01/2013