A PROMISED LAND IN THE DIASPORA: CHRISTIAN RELIGION, SOCIAL MEMORY, AND IDENTITY AMONG BANABANS IN FIJI

Authors

Wolfgang Kempf, Institute of Cultural and Social Anthropology, University of GöttingenFollow

Abstract

This article explores the evolving concept of diaspora, highlighting its departure from its original religious connotations to a broader framework encompassing migration, transnationalism, and identity. While religion has often been overlooked in contemporary diaspora studies, the article argues that Christian institutions play a pivotal role in shaping identity and social organization among Pacific Islanders living abroad. Focusing on diasporic Banabans in Fiji, the study examines how Christian discourses and biblical narratives—particularly the Exodus motif—have been appropriated to articulate a collective history of displacement and survival. The article situates Pacific migration within a historical and colonial context, demonstrating how religion functions as both a stabilizing force and a site of transformation in diasporic communities. By analyzing the interplay between faith, mobility, and identity, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of religious narratives in diasporic identity formation.

Recommended Citation

Kempf, Wolfgang (2012) "A PROMISED LAND IN THE DIASPORA: CHRISTIAN RELIGION, SOCIAL MEMORY, AND IDENTITY AMONG BANABANS IN FIJI," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 35: No. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol35/iss1/4