Revision 28297 of "Roko Tui Bau" on fjwiki

{{Nobility of Fiji}}

'''Turaga na Roko Tui Bau''' is a vassal chief to the [[Vunivalu of Bau|Vunivalu]] of [[Bau (island)|Bau]], Paramount Chief of the [[Kubuna Confederacy]].<ref>'''The Fijians''' - Page 62, 1908.</ref>

From his seat at the chiefly residence of '''Naicobocobo''', the ''Roko Tui Bau'' is [[Suzerain]] of the [[Vusaratu]] chiefs which include the ''Roko Tui Viwa, Roko Tui Kiuva, Tui Nuku'' and has special relationships with the related titles of ''[[Roko Tui Dreketi]], [[Verata (district)|Ratu Mai Verata]], [[Roko Tui Namata]], Roko Tui Veikau, Tui Vuya'' and many other chiefly titles in Fiji's [[House of Chiefs (Fiji)|Chiefly Households]].

The succession to the title does not follow [[primogeniture]], but the candidate must be a high-ranking member of the [[Vusaratu]] clan. Although the Roko Tui Bau is technically a subordinate chief, the selection process is completely independent of the ''Vunivalu'' and his [[Vunivalu of Bau|Tui Kaba]] clan.

==Status==

The Vunivalu was not always the senior Chieftain in Kubuna and Bau. The title was considered subordinate to the Roko Tui Bau.<ref name="Apologies to Thucydides">[http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0226734005&id=ZmWqy9XBuyoC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=gqVt5FtQTi&dq=the+book+Apologies+to+Thucydides&sig=8yzLdTyvqHdEaieD3xP06EuuhVw#PPP11,M1 '''Apologies to Thucydides''']: Understanding History as culture and Vice Versa – pages 27, 52, 63, 162, 198, 211, 216, 233, 249,</ref><ref name="Fiji 1979. Page 44">'''Fiji’s Heritage a history of Fiji''' by Kim Gravelle reprinted under its new name in 2000 it was originally published as Fiji Times a history of Fiji in 1979. ISBN 982-214-001-0, Published by Tiara enterprises Nadi, Part 10 Page 44 – reference to Paper by Deve Toganivalu documenting Bauan pre-history and the superiority of the Roko Tui Bau as supreme Chief of Bau and the Vunivalu as his second.</ref> Power struggles between the various chiefly households came to a head with the exile of the Vunivalu [[Tanoa Visawaqa]] in the early 19th century after a series of murders and reprisals.<ref name="Apologies to Thucydides" /><ref>'''Oceania''' By University of Sydney, Australian National Research Council - 1930, Ratu Tanoa and the battle at Lomaloma secures his supremacy</ref>  His son [[Seru Epenisa Cakobau]] however was allowed to remain in Bau during his fathers exile.  Cakobau gained power by subverting the Lasakau people to plot and execute the overthrow of the ruling group, led by Ratu Ravulo Vakayaliyalo, in 1837; Seru Epenisa Cakobau then reinstated his father as ruler.<ref>Tukutuku, Raraba, History of Bau</ref>

After the expulsion of the ''[[Mataqali|tokatoka]]'' ''Vuaniivi'', they re-established themselves at [[Vanua Balavu]] as the [[Turaga na Rasau|Rasau]] line of chiefs of [[Lomaloma]].

The leadership of the [[Mataqali]] ''Vusaratu'' and that of the wider Vusaratu chieftains was reestablished under a new dynasty led by the [[Mataqali|Tokatoka]] ''Nacokadi''. To cement this relationship, Cakobau took two of the new Roko Tui Bau's daughters as wives: [[Adi (title)|Adi]] Salote Qalirea Kaunilotuma and [[Adi (title)|Adi]] Litia Samanunu.

A third dynasty was established when the title passed to [[Jione Atonio Rabici Doviverata|Dr Ratu J.A.R. Dovi]], by blood a scion of the [[Bau (island)|Tui Kaba]], the chiefly clan of the [[Vunivalu of Bau]] but traditionally adopted as heir by the previous title-holder.

The current holder of the title is ''Ratu Dovi's'' eldest son, [[Joni Madraiwiwi|Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi]].

==Origins in Folklore & Early Recorded History==

The ancestral Chief Vuetiverata, more commonly remembered as simply ''Vueti''<ref>Tukutuku Raraba – History of Bau</ref> (aliases ''Koroi-Ratu mai Bulu, Serui-Ratu mai Bulu'') was the first ''Roko Tui Bau'' and according to legend he was the grandson of ''Lutunasobasoba''. The title derived from the name of a shrine in the Nakauvadra hill range in the province of [[Ra Province|Ra]][[File:Kauvadra.jpg|250px|thumb|left| Nakauvadra Mountains 1860]].

''Kubuna'' is known as a confederacy or ''Matanitu'' in modern Fiji but in pre-colonial times [[Kubuna Confederacy|Kubuna]] was a physical location. It was at Kubuna that the Kingdom of the same name was first established by several groups migrating out of Nakauvadra.  

Vueti founded one of the earliest known Fijian settlements after hostilities with the people of Nakauvadra had ceased. Initially at Nayavu, in Wainibuka (although at the time it was considered part of [[Verata (district)|Verata]]). From there some moved to [[Moturiki]] and the rest to [[Moala Island|Moala]]. 

The ''Moturiki'' group were direct [[lineal descendant]]s of ''Vueti's'' three sons. They became the three Tokatoka of ''Vuaniivi, Nacokadi'' and ''Nadruguca'' and comprised the Mataqali Vusaratu and were the first to settle at Kubuna. Vueti is buried at Kubuna in a mound called Tabukasivi, and was deified and became the ancestral god of the people of Kubuna, they worshiped him in the form of a serpent. After his death a division arose over the installation of a successor to Vueti. Eventually a new Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Serumataidrau, was selected from the Vuaniivi, which was the senior line.<ref>Ai Tukutuku Kei Viti - By Rev. Epeli Rokowaqa</ref>

Those that went to ''[[Moala Island|Moala]]'' travelled considerably more and were led by lineal descendants of ''[[Ratu|Roko]] Nadurucoko'' and therefore claimed [[Lineal descendants|collateral descent]] from ''Vueti''. They dispersed to [[Totoya]] and even to [[Tonga]]. Some returned and they gathered once again first at [[Verata (district)|Verata]] then at ''Nayavu'' (second time). From there they split, one group left Nayavu to settle at ''Kaba'' peninsula, they took the name ''Tui Kaba''. The second group called the ''Vunivalu'' continued travelling first to ''Viria'', before ending up at ''Ovea''.<ref>''Na Sala Vakavanua: A Study in Fijian Ethnology and Customs, unpublished paper, 1942''</ref>

All groups acknowledged the Roko Tui Bau as paramount but due to their separation, they were quite independent as well. At some point, the Roko Tui Bau settled on the island called ''Ulunivuaka'' that was already home to the ''Butoni'' and ''Levuka'' people <ref name="Fiji Page 54">A History of Fiji ,Chapter 4 Page 54 and 55</ref> The island was renamed [[Bau Island|Bau]] in honour of the ''Roko Tui Bau''. The ''Vusaratu'' and the ''Tui Kaba'', together with their warriors of the ''Vusaradave'' were the first to settle the island, the ''Butoni'' were expelled to resettle at ''Namacu'' in [[Koro Island|Koro]]. The ''Levuka'' remained and served as fisherfolk and navy, moving to the hill on the center of the island to leave the more desirable spots to their social betters.<ref>{{cite book|last=Waterhouse|first=Joseph|title=The king and people of Fiji|year=1997|publisher=University of Hawaiʻi Press|location=Honolulu|isbn=0824819209|page=23|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-ThoFiji-t1-body-d3.html}}</ref> This was probably alllowed because as a tribe recently settled on the coast, they were distrustful of the sea. 

In 1760, legend has it that the Vunivalu people found that the ''Levuka'' were keeping the choicest seafood and deepsea fish for themselves and presenting smaller specimens for the Sevu or tribute. In retaliation, Nailatikau, chief of the [[Mataqali|Tokatoka]] ''Vunivalu'' promptly expelled the ''Butoni'' (who eventually settled at [[Lakeba]]). In the same move, he took the  additional name ''Nadurucoko'' established himself as the first [[Vunivalu of Bau]] or secular chief, reunifying the two groups that had originally split at Moala and aggregating to himself the title of ''Tui Kaba'', much to the chagrin of the latter as they were the senior line of ''Nadurucoko I''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Derrick|first=R.A.|title=A History of Fiji|year=1946|publisher=Government Press|location=Suva|pages=53–55|chapter=V}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Lester|first=R. H.|title=Kava Drinking in Viti Levu, Fiji|journal=Oceania|year=1941|month=December}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Waterhouse|first=Joseph|title=The king and people of Fiji|year=1997|publisher=University of Hawaiʻi Press|location=Honolulu|isbn=0824819209|page=29|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-ThoFiji-t1-body-d3.html}}</ref> 

The ''Roko Tui Bau'' was now a spiritual leader and considered sacred, temporal power had shifted to the [[Vunivalu of Bau|Vunivalu]].

Nailatikau was succeeded by Banuve, who in the 30 years as Vunivalu, reclaimed wide areas of the adjacent reef flats and built up stone docks and sea walls. He allowed new fisherfolk from [[Beqa]] and [[Kadavu Island|Kadavu]] to settle on the island and establish the villages of ''Lasakau'' and ''Soso''. Those of Lasakau were the core of the new Bauan navy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Waterhouse|first=Joseph|title=The king and people of Fiji|year=1997|publisher=University of Hawaiʻi Press|location=Honolulu|isbn=0824819209|page=24|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-ThoFiji-t1-body-d3.html}}</ref>

''Banuve'' was succeeded by his son ''Naulivou'' (literally ''a new oar'') who enjoyed yet another long reign spanning nearly 30 years. This long period of stability facilitated the rapid rise of ''Bau''.
 
The Roko Tui Bau Raiwalui chafed in the restrainsts of priestly duty and wished more direct control. He was eventually expelled from Bau and eventually killed at sea near [[Vanua Balavu]] by ''Naulivou's'' younger brother, [[Tanoa Visawaqa]].

The entire ''Vuaniivi'' was eventually exiled and ''Nacokadi'' became the ruling ''Tokatoka''. 

''Tanoa'' was the father of [[Seru Epenisa Cakobau|Cakobau]], the ''Vunivalu'' who eventually wrested absolute control and relegated the new Roko Tui Bau from ''Nacokadi'' to an exalted position as Spiritual Supreme Chief, ''Roko Tui Bau na Turaga Levu'' (lit. ''Roko Tui Bau the Great Lord'') who only he could approach with any ease. This effectively ended all further ambitions by removing him entirely from the secular power structure.

This left the title with much esteem and prestige but little real power except over his direct subordinates.

== See also ==
* [[Vunivalu of Bau]]
* [[Turaga na Rasau]]
* [[Bau (village)|Bau Village]]
* [[Bau Island]]
* [[Verata (district)|Verata]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*[http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=OCLC05701972&id=WMkNe1rwRdMC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=book+Fiji+and+the+Fijians '''Fiji and the Fijians'''], by Thomas Williams, James Calvert.
* '''Voyage Round the World''': Embracing the Principal Events of the Narrative of the United States... - Page 383, by Charles Wilkes - 1849
* '''Elites: choice, leadership and succession''' - Page 116, by [[João de Pina-Cabral]], Antónia Pedroso de Lima - Social Science - 2000
* '''The Fijians''' - Page 62, 1908.
* '''The Golden Bough A Study in Magic and Religion''': A New Abridgement from the Second and Third Editions - Page 149, by Sir James George Frazer - 1998.
*'''‘Matanitu’''' the struggle for power in early Fiji by David Routledge 1985 – published by the Institute of Pacific studies and the University of the South Pacific Fiji, Chapter 2 Struggle between the Chiefs 1760 to 1842 Page 40,56
* '''Tukutuku Raraba''' – History of Bau – Chapter 1 Page 1, records tabulated by the [http://www.fijianaffairs.gov.fj/NLFC.html Native Lands and Fisheries Commission], the book '''The Pacific Way''' – A Memoir by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara published by the University of Hawaii press Honolulu refers to the ‘Tukutuku Raraba’ as the ''‘registrar of land owners rights and customs’''
* '''Oceania''' By University of Sydney, Australian National Research Council - 1930.
* '''Fiji’s Heritage a history of Fiji''' by Kim Gravelle reprinted under its new name in 2000 it was originally published as Fiji Times a history of Fiji in 1979. ISBN 982-214-001-0, Published by Tiara enterprises Nadi.
*[http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0521003547&id=gB9mHNE17jgC&pg=PA190&lpg=PA190&dq=Vunivalu+of+Bau&sig=vL1J5HUMmlh7vDIAVnogj_6rzn4 '''The Cambridge History of the Pacific Islanders'''], Page 189 - 190, By Malama Meleisea, Donald Denoon, Karen .L Nero, Jocylyn Linnekin, Stewart Firth
*[http://books.google.com.fj/books?vid=ISBN0226734005&id=ZmWqy9XBuyoC&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&ots=gqVt5FtQTi&dq=the+book+Apologies+to+Thucydides&sig=8yzLdTyvqHdEaieD3xP06EuuhVw#PPP11,M1 '''Apologies to Thucydides''']: Understanding History as culture and Vice Versa, By Marshal Sahlins.

== External links ==
* [http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/states/fiji/vunivalu.html Vunivalu]
* Article on Bau and the [http://www.everyculture.com/Oceania/Bau-History-and-Cultural-Relations.html Vunivalu] with some historical details.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roko Tui Bau}}
[[Category:Tailevu Province]]
[[Category:Vusaratu]]