Say hello! Say Bula!
Kava in Sweden? Hm… Did you know that the city of Luleå in the northern part of Sweden encourages its residents to greet each other? Why? There’s more to it than just spicing up your walks!
In the fall of 2023, the social campaign “Säg hej” (Say Hello) was launched in the city of Luleå. Its message is simple: saying ‘hello’ makes people happy and feel safe and secure.
The main idea behind the campaign is to encourage residents to greet each other in everyday situations, especially strangers! According to the initiator of the campaign, Åsa Koski, in an interview with The Local:
The city based its initiative on research showing that having a broader circle of acquaintances and neighbors, which she refers to as the “tunna band” (literally, “thin connections”), is more important for people’s mental health than previously thought.
“What we want to do with the campaign is to encourage people to say ‘hi’ to build and strengthen these more superficial relationships or tunna band with other people”, says Koski.
The goal is to create a greater sense of security, belonging to a group, and reduce levels of loneliness among residents. Loneliness is indeed a real problem in the city. Recent studies have shown that it particularly affects young people: 45% of residents between 16 and 29 years old experience mental health issues due to feelings of loneliness. Read more HERE.
The campaign kicked off in the fall for a reason: it coincided with “Neighbor Day” on October 31st when the days are already short, dark, and cold. Will saying “hello” help break the ice? We hope so! Although it won’t be easy. The residents of Luleå are known for their distance and restraint. Positive communication is not easy, especially in northern Sweden, where the word “yes” is often replaced by a simple sharp inhale. That’s why we cheer for the entire campaign.
Kava kava in sweden
And if “hello” is not enough, we suggest another greeting: BULA! Because “bula” is not just a common greeting in Fiji. It is also part of the Kava Kava drinking ritual (spoken before consuming a portion). Kava is known for its social character, promoting the breaking of barriers, openness, and sincerity. In the past, its effects were used to settle disputes or as a facilitator for negotiations. Perhaps not coincidentally, French President Emmanuel Macron was recently served Kava during his visit to Vanuatu – negotiations between countries regarding the status of southern lands were reaching a decisive phase – an agreement was needed!
Kava Kava and breaking barriers
What does it mean to open up with Kava? A great description of this Kava Kava phenomenon is in the film “Tales of Taonga – Yaqona & Kava of the Pacific” by The Coconet TV. Let’s quote a statement from one of the heroes – Netani Rika describes his experiences of gatherings with Kava:
“What happens around this bowl – stays around this bowl. […] It’s a place to relax. It’s a place to way to unwind. Even to share the difficult things in life. If the friends are right: if you have right people around – it’s a way to manage crisis. Personal crisis. Talk about things that “men” think they don’t need to talk about. […] This is a learning tool. An instrument for helping people to discuss those difficult issues. Very effective. Because the longer you go, the more people gain trust, feel comfortable and tongues loosen. You get some pretty good discussions going. […] It brings people together. […] It’s an excuse to build friendship […]. You can use it to say “sorry”. […] “Sorry for upsetting you”, And than you sit and share [Kava]. It becomes a tool of reconciliation. One cup. One love.”
One cup. One love! Bula!
Leave a Reply