What's in a Demonym? A Note on a New and Uplifting Ethnonym

Abstract

Ethnicity is all important in Fiji, and labels for the different ethnic groups are a constant source of debate. A significant proportion of Fiji’s population are descendants of indentured laborers from the Indian subcontinent. An appropriate name for these citizens has for a long time been a contentious issue. In 2017 a new name was proposed; one that signals the beginning of a change in attitude. This note reports on the new name. Show more