The first inhabitants of Fiji arrived from South East Asia long before contact with European explorers in the 17th century. This academic question of Pacific migration still lingers.

It is documented that Fiji was visited by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in an attempt to find the Great Southern Continent in 1643. It was not until the 19th century, however, that Europeans came to the islands to settle there permanently. The islands came under British control as a colony in 1874. It was granted independence in 1970.

Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indo-Fijian (Indian) community. A consequence of the second 1987 coup was that the British Monarchy and the Governor General were replaced by a non-executive President, and the long form of the country’s name changed from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji (in turn changed to Republic of the Fiji Islands in 1997).

A 1990 constitution guaranteed ethnic Fijian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian.

A year later, this was deposed in a coup led by George Speight, a hardline Fijian nationalist. Fiji’s membership of the Commonwealth of Nations was suspended due to the anti-democratic activities connected with the 2000 coup. Democracy was restored towards the end of 2000, and Laisenia Qarase, who had led an interim government in the meantime, was elected Prime Minister. Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth in 2001.

For a country of its size, Fiji has exceptionally capable armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.

Fiji , officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands, is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited; in addition, there are some 522 islets. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for some 87% of the total population. The name Fiji is the old Tongan word for the islands, which is in turn derived from the Fijian name Viti.

However , a coup by indigenous Fijians in 1987, followed by a further coup in 2000, caused immense harm to the tourism industry and to Fiji’s international reputation. Rancour over the 2000 coup persists, with bitter divisions over a proposed bill that would give amnesties to those involved in it. Although the islands now enjoy reasonable stability, nothing has been done to address the underlying causes of Fiji’s political problems.

Fiji’s population, which resides mostly on the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, is divided almost equally between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, the descendents of indentured laborers brought from India. Mixing between the two groups is minimal, and informal segregation runs deep at almost every level of society.

Despite the troubled past of the archipelago, Fijians are known as some of the friendliest people in the world. They are not judgmental of other people and will rarely express a negative opinion. Customs still prevail in the more traditional villages, especially those distant from towns and urban centers. And of course, Fiji is where the Cloud Breaker, the incredible six-meter wave was found offshore at Tavarua, a place which still draws surfers from around the world.