Edward Cakobau
Encyclopedia
Ratu
Sir Edward Tuivanuavou Tugi Cakobau, KBE, MC (21 December 1908 - 26 June 1973) was a Fiji
an chief
and statesman.
and his Fijian "trial wife", Adi Litia Cakobau, who was a granddaughter of Seru Epenisa Cakobau
, the King who forged the first unified Fijian state in 1871, before ceding the islands to the United Kingdom
in 1874. Cakobau was a half-brother of Tonga's Queen Salote Tupou III.
He was educated at New Zealand
's Wanganui Technical College, a public secondary school in Wanganui. School records show he attended from 1923 to 1928. After working as a schoolteacher, Cakobau commanded the Fiji Infantry Regiment
in World War II
, and was awarded the Military Cross
. When Fiji became independent in 1970, Cakobau was knighted, becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE), Ratu Edward Cakobau was also a Freemason.
Ratu Edward played a major role in Fijian politics
in the years that preceded and followed independence in 1970. As Minister for Labour in the first post-independence government, Cakobau had to contend with a docker's strike for a 31 percent pay rise, at the port of Suva
in May 1971.
He was a Fijian cricket
er who played a single first-class
match for Auckland in the 1930/31 Plunket Shield and later made two first-class appearances for Fiji in 1948 against Otago and Auckland.
Viliame Dreunimisimisi (1937–2000) was responsible for the first distillery in the South Pacific and was a former Minister for Tourism and Agriculture. In 1993, he joined six other Cabinet Ministers in bringing down the government by voting against the budget. The second son, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau
has had a distinguished career in the military, diplomatic service, and politics, serving from 2001 to 2005 as Speaker of the House of Representatives
. His third son, Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto
has also been a Cabinet Minister
and his Fourth son was Ratu Keni Vuiyasawa. (The discrepancy of last names is due to the lack of widespread use of surnames in Fiji, especially in Cakobau's time. See Fijian naming conventions
for details).
Cakobau died on 26 June 1973, aged 64 years.
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Sir Edward Tuivanuavou Tugi Cakobau, KBE, MC (21 December 1908 - 26 June 1973) was a 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...
an chief
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
and statesman.
Life
He was born on 21 December 1908 as the son of King George Tupou II of TongaTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
and his Fijian "trial wife", Adi Litia Cakobau, who was a granddaughter of 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:...
, the King who forged the first unified Fijian state in 1871, before ceding the islands to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1874. Cakobau was a half-brother of Tonga's Queen Salote Tupou III.
He was educated at New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's Wanganui Technical College, a public secondary school in Wanganui. School records show he attended from 1923 to 1928. After working as a schoolteacher, Cakobau commanded the Fiji Infantry Regiment
Fiji Infantry Regiment
The Fiji Infantry Regiment is the main combat element of the Fijian military. It is a light infantry regiment consisting of six battalions, of which three are regular army and three are Territorial Force. The regiment was formed with the foundation of the Fijian armed forces in 1920, which came...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. When Fiji became independent in 1970, Cakobau was knighted, becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE), Ratu Edward Cakobau was also a Freemason.
Ratu Edward played a major role in Fijian politics
Politics of Fiji
Politics of Fiji takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Fiji has a multi-party system with the Prime Minister of Fiji as head of government. The executive power is exercised by the government...
in the years that preceded and followed independence in 1970. As Minister for Labour in the first post-independence government, Cakobau had to contend with a docker's strike for a 31 percent pay rise, at the port of Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
in May 1971.
He was a Fijian cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played a single first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
match for Auckland in the 1930/31 Plunket Shield and later made two first-class appearances for Fiji in 1948 against Otago and Auckland.
Carrying the name
Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau had four sons. The eldest son, RatuRatu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Viliame Dreunimisimisi (1937–2000) was responsible for the first distillery in the South Pacific and was a former Minister for Tourism and Agriculture. In 1993, he joined six other Cabinet Ministers in bringing down the government by voting against the budget. The second son, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau
Epeli Nailatikau
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, CF, LVO, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is a Fijian chief and the current President of Fiji. He has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and government...
has had a distinguished career in the military, diplomatic service, and politics, serving from 2001 to 2005 as Speaker of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
. His third son, Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto
Tu'uakitau Cokanauto
Ratu Tu'uakitau George Cokanauto is a Fijian chief and politician. He is the scion of a distinguished family, as a son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau , and brother of the Parliamentary Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.- The 1999 election and aftermath :In the parliamentary election of 1999,...
has also been a Cabinet Minister
Cabinet (Fiji)
Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime...
and his Fourth son was Ratu Keni Vuiyasawa. (The discrepancy of last names is due to the lack of widespread use of surnames in Fiji, especially in Cakobau's time. See Fijian naming conventions
Fijian name
Naming conventions in Fiji differ greatly, both between and within ethnic groups in Fiji. Indigenous Fijians have a set of cultural practices which today are more loosely followed, and to some extent blended with elements of European culture with regard to names...
for details).
Cakobau died on 26 June 1973, aged 64 years.
External links
- Ratu Sir Edwards Genealogy Information
- Obituary in Cricinfo New Zealand
- Ratu Edward as a Free Mason.
- http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36644.html