Lectures

An illustrated talk by Fergus Clunie.

‘Cannibal forks’ are one of the most widely faked artefacts in Oceania – for any object with “cannibal” in its name was sure to be a best seller in the tourist market, even in the 19th century when European beach combers carved these four pronged wooden forks, supposedly reserved for the consumption of human flesh, and sold them to gullible travellers.

Like most fakes, they were however, based on a genuine object, the bulotoku or ritual feeding fork, used for feeding persons who were forbidden to have their food touched by others for reasons of taboo.

OAS is very pleased to present again Fergus Clunie, one of the world’s most respected Fijian specialists, who will reveal the real facts about the bulotoku while touching on traditional human sacrifice and cannibalism in Fiji. Our first meeting of 2012 should be a fascinating evening!

***Bring a guest for free. (This is a one off offer) If you know someone who might enjoy this event, please bring them along and they will receive complimentary admission, if accompanied by a member.

***If you happen to own a bulotoku, you are welcome to bring it along for Fergus to inspect.

Attached please find an illustration of the doubly royal bulotoku or Fijian ritual feeding fork, given by King Cakobau of Fiji to Prince Albert Victor of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales in 1881 and donated to the British Museum by king George V in 1920. Photo courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum.

***Please join us after the meeting for a casual supper at a nearby restaurant. RSVP Secretary 02 9332 3984