Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Bamboo used to be a dirty word to me. When it was uttered I would turn in disgust and maybe even spit on the ground regardless of where I happened to be at the time. It signified cheapness and bad quality and was avoided whenever I was looking for a good instrument. This may sound a little strange so far but stay with me … I’m sure everything will make sense soon.

In Fijian culture it seems to be very useful with numerous things being made from it. This week has been extremely busy with Pou Pou leading a crack team of clubbers, weavers and avid watchers (all technical terms) to make walls for the new Vale (pron. Vallay) . Clubbers envisaged their previous bosses, ex girl / boyfriends or old school bullies while smashing bamboo lengthways with thick branches of wood. This formed long strips of bamboo that could then be passed to the weavers. They would weave the bamboo up, over and under to form a strong and relatively waterproof wall… eventually. The watchers were there with emotional support while drinking tea and occasionally taking in the odd spot of sun. Although I leant my hand to all of the jobs involved I was more often than not … the latter.

Much respect to the people involved who soldiered on as the new Vale became more and more sheltered from the elements. Lizzie, Helen, Ryan, Matt, Hazel and all of the others I have forgotten literally put their blood, sweat and tears into it to so that the new tribies on the island sleep comfortably. Cuts on hands and feet (the bamboo apparently is used to cut meat in the absence of knives) seemed to be rife along with the odd splinter or two. On day two, almost immediately, I managed to get a splinter the size of Canvey Island (local reference … for me) embedded in my hand. For those of you that may be a little worried, I am fine. The trip to the hospital was cancelled and I managed to get through it with minimal tears. I did however decide that the flesh wound was bad enough to warrant a lie in a hammock for the rest of the day. As I said, much respect to everyone else, I was rubbish.

Although this time it’s been utilised for housing, as more and more people arrive on the island – imaginations run wild and occasionally we seem to be surprising our Fijian friends with bamboo creations. Since being on the island Ryan has made a bamboo set of wind chimes and I have decided to suck it up, stop spitting and love the fact that finally I can teach!! I have carried a long section of wood around with me for 6 months now and have loved that fact that I have it to hand. I have been playing Didgeridoo for 13 years and learnt a lot in my 3 months in Oz. Little did I know that I will be passing some of it on when I come to Fiji. The Fijian guys seem to be really interested in it and have included me in the Meke and songs during the grog sessions … an amazing experience. I gave one to Va yesterday (if you’ve not met her yet .. you’ll love her) and she played it straight away. Talented lady … don’t tell her but i’ve made her one to take home :-)

I decided that my project here would be musical and (ignoring didges for a mo) in the past week I have made a large instrument which looks like a set of panpipes. Although with this tuneful device you actually play it with your flip flops (thongs, jandals … etc.) and get different tones reverberating out of the bottom. My proudest moment is indeed when I managed to knock out 4 didgeridoos made from good ole bamboo. Although cheap didges tend to be made from bamboo when its the only thing you have to work with …. you (or I) get on with it. Cut to size they differ in key and tone. It pretty simple to make them to be honest, cut didge to size, knock out the section blocks in the bamboo and play. Each night I can usually be found teaching someone the art of horse impressions while blowing down a big stick. There is talk of me going to one of the local schools and teaching the kids. That could be fun, keep your eyes peeled for a blog on that one.

I came out with a very profound statement last night (i thought so anyway):

Buy a Didge, Head to a Tropical Island …. and Blow.

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Andy Luckman (2 weeks on Voro Voro and loving it!)