Fijians in the United Kingdom

Last updated

Fijians in the United Kingdom include Fijian-born immigrants to the United Kingdom as well as their British-born descendants. As of 2011, there were 6,285 Fijian-born residents in the UK.

Contents

History and settlement

Fiji and the United Kingdom have close ties, with Fiji being a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, although its membership was suspended in September 2009. [1] For several generations, Fijians have served in the British Army. They fought for the British against the Japanese in the Second World War, and later in Malaya, Borneo, Oman and Iraq. [2]

Fijians have been dubbed the "unsung heroes" of the British army, [3] and, according to Major Charles Heyman, "There is a long military tradition in Fiji and many serve today because their fathers and grandfathers did" and "the Fijians have been an essential part of the British empire and what they are doing, basically, is filling the vacant slots in the British Army because we cannot recruit enough from the UK itself". [3] As of 2009, approximately 2,000 Fijians are working for the British armed forces (as a result from recruiting since 1998). [4]

Demographics and population

The 2001 UK Census recorded 3,464 Fijian-born people residing in the United Kingdom. [5] The 2011 census recorded 5,759 people born in Fiji living in England, 88 in Wales, [6] 325 in Scotland [7] and 113 in Northern Ireland. [8]

The largest numbers of people of Fijian origin in the UK can be found in London as well as towns within the proximity of British Army infantry bases such as Catterick and Salisbury. [9] Fiji is a diverse nation with a mix of many ethnicities, those of indigenous Austronesian origin form the majority of the island's population, with minorities of Indians amongst other groups. [10] Many famous British people of Fijian descent are Indo-Fijians, including Nifa Hindes, [11] Nishan Hindes, [11] Satya Nandan, [12] Ramon Tikaram, [13] Tanita Tikaram [14] and Simita Kumar. [15]

Culture and community

Many Fijians attend community church services held at various barracks around the country on the first Sunday of every month. [16] The Fijian community in the UK is fairly tight-knit and they enjoy large banquets and meals together, where traditional Fijian dishes are cooked in earth ovens, Lovo is a popular with the community whilst other foods such as chicken, lamb, fish with coconut milk alongside yam and sweet potatoes are also popular. [16] There are currently no Fijian shops or restaurants in the capital, although many African owned establishments prove popular with the Fijian community. Food is a major part of Fijian culture, and celebrations take place across the country every year on a day called Fiji day which commemorates the country's independence. [16] Dancing and games of rugby are also a common sight at these celebrations. [16] Fijians and other Pacific Islanders also tend to choose similar night clubs and venues especially in London. [16]

Notable individuals

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanita Tikaram</span> British pop/folk singer-songwriter (born 1969)

Tanita Tikaram is a British pop/folk singer-songwriter. She achieved chart success with the singles "Twist in My Sobriety" and "Good Tradition" from her 1988 debut album, Ancient Heart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East West Records</span> American record label

East West Records is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Mary's College, Basingstoke</span> Sixth form college in Basingstoke, Hampshire

Queen Mary's College (QMC) is a sixth form college in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. The college's name is from the former grammar school Queen Mary's School in the northern part of Basingstoke. The college is located in the former school buildings of the Shrubbery All Girls secondary modern, which date back to the early 1950s.

Ramon P. Tikaram is a British actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC Two series This Life (1996–1997), the BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2009–2012), the Sky Atlantic series Fortitude (2015–2017), the DC Universe series Pennyworth (2019–2022), and the Sky One comedy-drama Brassic (2019–2021). His films include Mischief Night (2006) and Endgame (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twist in My Sobriety</span> 1988 single by Tanita Tikaram

"Twist in My Sobriety" is a song written and performed by British singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram. Released as a single in October 1988 from her debut album, Ancient Heart (1988), it was Tikaram's biggest international success, achieving top-10 placings in several European countries. The song reached number two in both Austria and West Germany. Its music video was directed by Gerard de Thame and filmed in Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Tradition</span> 1988 single by Tanita Tikaram

"Good Tradition" is a song, written and originally recorded by British pop/folk singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram, released as the first single from her debut album, Ancient Heart (1988). When it was released, it went largely unnoticed and attracted little media attention. The song therefore did not get much airplay, but weeks after its release, the single started climbing up the charts and finally reached #10 at the UK Singles Chart in August 1988.

Satya N. Nandan, CF, CBE, was a diplomat and lawyer from Fiji specializing in ocean affairs, was Chairman of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, where he served a two-year term commencing 1 January 2009. Previously, he was the first Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, a position he held for three consecutive four-year terms from March 1996 until December 2008.

Australians in the United Kingdom, or Australian Britons, include Australians who have become residents or citizens of the United Kingdom. The largest segment of Australia's diaspora of 1 million resides in the United Kingdom.

Cranbourne is a co-educational secondary school in Basingstoke, northern Hampshire, England. The school serves Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students between the ages of 11 and 16. The school follows the National Curriculum.

Sir Moti Tikaram, KBE, CF was an Indo-Fijian judge, civil servant, and football administrator. He was the first Fijian appointed to be a magistrate, and the first appointed as a judge of the High Court of Fiji. From 1972 to 1987 he was Fiji's first ombudsman. He later served as President of the Fiji Court of Appeal.

<i>The Cappuccino Songs</i> 1998 studio album by Tanita Tikaram

The Cappuccino Songs is the sixth studio album by British singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram, released by Mother in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Almost Got It Together</span> 1990 single by Tanita Tikaram

"We Almost Got It Together" is a song by British singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram, released in 1990 as the lead single from her second studio album, The Sweet Keeper (1990). It was written by Tikaram, and produced by Peter van Hooke and Rod Argent. The song was a top 30 hit in Finland, Ireland and Italy, while peaking within the top 40 in Belgium and the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Wanna Lose at Love</span> 1998 single by Tanita Tikaram

"I Don't Wanna Lose At Love" is the second single to be released from Tanita Tikaram's sixth studio album The Cappuccino Songs.

Barbadian British people, Bajan Brits or British Barbadians, are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose ethnic origins lie fully or partially in the Caribbean island of Barbados. The UK is home to the second largest Barbadian-born migrant population out of all the OECD countries, with the 2001 Census recording 21,601 UK residents born on the Caribbean island, compared to the 53,785 Barbadian-born residents of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealanders in the United Kingdom</span> Citizens or residents of the UK who originate from New Zealand

New Zealanders in the United Kingdom are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom who originate from New Zealand.

British Afghans are British citizens and non-citizen residents born in or with ancestors from, Afghanistan, part of worldwide Afghan diaspora. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that there were 79,000 people born in Afghanistan living in the UK in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nepalese in the United Kingdom</span> Nepali diaspora in United Kingdom, Ethnic group

According to ONS estimates in 2019 there were 76,000 Nepalese-born people in the United Kingdom.

Indo-Fijians, also known as Indian Fijians, are Fijian citizens of Indian descent, and include people who trace their ancestry to various regions of India and the Indian subcontinent. Although Indo-Fijians constituted a majority of Fiji's population from 1956 through the late 1980s, discrimination and the resulting brain drain resulted in them numbering 313,798 (37.6%) out of a total of 827,900 people living in Fiji as of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Make the Whole World Cry</span> 1992 single by Tanita Tikaram

"You Make the Whole World Cry" is the only single to be released from the album Eleven Kinds of Loneliness by British musician Tanita Tikaram. The record was issued on 10 February 1992 via East West Records label. In 1996 the song was included in her album The Best of Tanita Tikaram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Cokanasiga</span> England international rugby union player

Joe Cokanasiga is a professional rugby union player for the England national rugby union team. He plays wing for Bath, having previously represented London Irish. He helped his former team win promotion from the RFU Championship in 2016–17 season to the English Premiership for the 2017–18 season.

References

  1. ↑ "Fiji suspended from Commonwealth". BBC News. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Rebecca (4 September 2006). "London Lives: The Fijian soldier". Time Out. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Fiji's 'unsung heroes' of UK army". BBC News. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  4. ↑ McDougall, Dan (26 April 2009). "To Helmand and back". The Observer. p. 23. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  5. ↑ Place of birth data collated by OECD based on 2001 UK Census Archived 27 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "2011 Census: Country of birth (expanded), regions in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "Country of birth (detailed)" (PDF). National Records of Scotland . Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "Country of Birth – Full Detail: QS206NI". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency . Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  9. ↑ "Born abroad: Other Oceania". BBC. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  10. ↑ Provisional results – 2007 Population and Housing Census – Fiji Government Online Archived 25 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. 1 2 "Nifa and Nishan Hindes". SWAD. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  12. ↑ "Satya N. Nandan Re-Elected". United Nations. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  13. ↑ "Ramon Tikaram: Summary". TV.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  14. ↑ "Tanita Tikaram Biography". Polydor . Retrieved 8 May 2008.
  15. ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (1 April 2022). "Council elections 2022 – Simita Kumar – Southside/Newington Ward". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "London Lives: The Fijian soldier". Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.