Lali: Fiji musical instrument

A lali is an idiophonic Fijian drum of the wooden slit-gong type analogous to the New Zealand Maori Pahu. The musical instrument is commonly seen throughout Polynesia. The lali was an essential part of traditional Fijian culture. The musical instrument was used as a form of communication to announce deaths, wars and births. A smaller version of the musical instrument is used in music. Lali drums are now used to call the people of a particular area together like the church services. The musical instrument is also used to entertain guests of several hotel resorts. The musical instrument is carved out of wood and performed with the bare hands, but it is also player with the use of sticks that are produced of softer wood so as to prevent the instrument from being damaged. Historically, larger and smaller sticks were used together when performing the musical instrument.

Lali drums were originally produced from resonant timbers like the Ta vola and the Dilo or in the case of the sacred drums used in the spirit houses, Vesi. Portable war drum had two resonating chambers and sent confusing signals over the field of battle.

Normally, the musical instrument occurred in pairs, one is always smaller than the other, and they are performed together, in counterpoints. This rarely occurs in the modern usage. Sometimes, special structures that are known as the ‘Lali ni Bure’ are carved to keep the rain from filling the musical instrument and wetting the player of the instrument.