Bad Fiji Gyals Collective logo. Text reads: Bad Fiji Gyals. Sugarcane graphic is on both sides of text.

Viti
We want to acknowledge KaiViti/Indigenous and iTaukei communities across Viti (Fiji) and pay our respects to their elders of the past, present and emerging. We recognise and respect their continuing connection to the Vanua, ocean and community.

Aotearoa
I want to acknowledge the Mana Whenua of Tamāki Makaurau, Ngāti Pāoa; Ngāi Tai; Ngāti Whātua; Te Wai-o-Hua/Ngā Oho; Ngāti Te Ata; and Te Kawerau-a-Maki, whose stolen land I live and work from. As tauiwi (non-Māori) Indo-Fijian woman I recognise that I benefit from living on this stolen land in the settler state of New Zealand. As tauiwi I also seek to honour and commit to upholding Māori sovereignty in Aotearoa through our partnership in He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.


U.S.
I aim to break down all kinds of supremacy within the communities that I come from and that also means accepting how I benefit from living on stolen land in North America. I pay my respects to the Jalquin, Lisjan, Chochenyo and Karkin peoples (Ohlone communities across the East Bay, California) while knowing that all Indigenous and Black communities continue to face genocide, displacement and police brutality across the U.S.

The Bad Fiji Gyals Collective

Masculinity and Contemporary Politics with Romitesh Kant

Image collage of Romitesh. Image of Romitesh looking down and smiling while holding a mic. There are graphics of hibiscus flowers and sugarcane around him. Lower left corner is a black and white archival image of a sugarcane field. Upper left corner is text that reads: Romitesh Kant.

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About Romitesh

Romitesh Kant is an independent researcher who completed his Master of Arts in Politics at the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. He is currently an honorary research associate with the Institute of Human Security and Social Change (IHSSC) at La Trobe University, Australia where he is also research associate for the Development Leadership Programme (DLP). His research interests include constitution design and democratization in ethnically divided societies, youth political activism and impact of ICTS (Information and Communication Technologies) on politics in the Pacific. His recently completed MA thesis is entitled, ‘Constitutional Redesign for Democratic Stability in a Divided Society: A Fiji Case Study’. He also was a co-director of a documentary that explores how Fijians – and Fijian society at large – is coping with the challenges and opportunities of living in an age of “smart” communication technologies.

Also available on YouTube

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Vinaka vakalevu to the ongoing support of the Fiji Museum in accessing archival material and research.

Vinaka vakalevu to our family and friends who have contributed to our work and this collective. Without your support we would not be here today.

Vinaka vakalevu to everyone who contributed to our GoFundMe fundraiser.

© Bad Fiji Gyals 2020