The Ifira community will soon witness the official opening of its nakamal, Farea Malarua Narsong Tarsongsong, on 26 September, following custom celebrations beginning on the 24th.

The building, designed with reinforced concrete to withstand natural disasters, marks a major step in preserving custom while protecting the community.

Right hand of the Chief, Bakoa Kaltonga, said the opening reflects both tradition and resilience.

“Ifira has had four different kinds of nakamal over the years, starting with wild cane, then timber and limestone, and later concrete with iron roofing. But many of them were damaged by cyclones and other disasters, which is why this new building was designed to stand strong,” he explained.

The nakamal will also serve as a multipurpose building for the community. According to Bakoa, the project gave many young people the chance to learn valuable construction skills.

“This is not just a nakamal. It is also a place that trains and empowers our young people through the building process,” he said.

A unique feature of the nakamal is a sealed time capsule, holding 70 years of custom and governance records of Ifira, to be opened by future generations.

“Inside the nakamal we sealed a time capsule containing every custom and governance structure of Ifira. In 70 years’ time, the next generation will open it and see the order of custom and how our culture has developed until today,” Bakoa said.

Due to limited space on Ifira, only invited guests will attend the event, with around 100 VIPs, including foreign dignitaries, expected.

“Ifira is small, and space is limited, so only those with invitations will attend the event,” Bakoa noted.

The opening ceremony will follow custom traditions, similar to those performed during the visit of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1974, ensuring cultural practices are preserved and passed on.