Bau Island
Encyclopedia
Bau is a small island
in Fiji
, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu
.
, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force. With that unmatched power, Seru Epenisa Cakobau
was able to unite all of Fiji's disparate tribes under his authority in 1871.
(considered to be Fiji's premier chiefly title), and the Roko Tui Bau, currently held by Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi
, the former Vice-President of Fiji
.
(also known as the Kubuna Tribe) and the chiefly centre of Tailevu Province. It is divided into three villages - Bau, Lasakau, and Soso.
Among Bau's landmarks are Fiji's oldest Christian
church and a stone on which the skulls of cannibalism
victims were crushed.
has many dialects, but the official standard is based on the speech of Bau.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
.
History
With the aid of Charlie SavageCharles Savage (beachcomber)
Charlie Savage, was a sailor and beachcomber known for his exploits on the islands of Fiji between 1808 and 1813.-Arrival at Fiji:...
, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force. With that unmatched power, Seru Epenisa Cakobau
Seru Epenisa Cakobau
Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau was a Fijian Ratu and warlord who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership, establishing a united Fijian kingdom.-Background:...
was able to unite all of Fiji's disparate tribes under his authority in 1871.
Chiefly titles
Significant chiefly titles from Bau include the VunivaluVunivalu of Bau
Turaga na Vunivalu ni Bau is the Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy, loosely translated the title means Warlord of Bau or Root of War. The succession to the title does not follow primogeniture, but the candidate must be a high ranking member of the Tui Kaba clan.-A brief history:The...
(considered to be Fiji's premier chiefly title), and the Roko Tui Bau, currently held by Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi
Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi is a Fijian lawyer, politician and was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006. He was sworn in on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004...
, the former Vice-President of Fiji
Vice-President of Fiji
The Fijian vice-presidency is a mostly ceremonial office. The position was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the President, in the event of the latter's death or resignation, or of his otherwise being unable to carry out his duties...
.
Territories and landmarks
Bau is the capital of the Kubuna ConfederacyKubuna Confederacy
Kubuna is one of three confederacies which comprise Fiji's House of Chiefs, to which all of Fiji's chiefs belong.-Details of Kubuna:It consists of the provinces of Tailevu, Naitasiri, Lomaiviti, and parts of the western provinces of Ba, Ra...
(also known as the Kubuna Tribe) and the chiefly centre of Tailevu Province. It is divided into three villages - Bau, Lasakau, and Soso.
Among Bau's landmarks are Fiji's oldest Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
church and a stone on which the skulls of cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
victims were crushed.
Language
The Fijian languageFijian language
Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 450,000 first-language speakers, which is less than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language...
has many dialects, but the official standard is based on the speech of Bau.