Traditionally, chants included mournful laments at funerals, war incitement cries, and animal impersonations. Nowadays important visitors to the country or any village are welcomed by Mekes accompanied by Lali beats, vocal chants simulating the old tradition and clapping. This is often performed in conjunction with the Yaqona ceremony. Many prominent hotels and resorts also host Meke performances for welcoming and entertaining their guests. Nearly every Fijian, particularly those brought up in a village, know how to perform Meke and it involves men, women and children.
Men perform club and spear dances while women do the fan dances.
In the early tribal war days, men performed the Cibi , a death dance, and women the dele or wate , a dance in which they sexually humiliated the corpses and captives. The dancers are nearly always costumed in grass skirts with decorative arm and wrist bands, their bodies oiled, faces painted and hair decorated in flowers, shells or other woven ornaments. These dances are still performed today for both commercial and traditional purposes. Indian classical dances are also extremely traditional and still follow the ancient rules set centuries ago. In Fiji, classical and folk dances present a spectacular aspect of the continuing Indian tradition.