Niumataiwalu
Encyclopedia
Niumataiwalu was the founder of the Vuanirewa
dynasty, a noble clan of the Lau Islands
(in Fiji
) from which the Tui Nayau
is chosen. Niumataiwalu was the son of Delainavugalei, a high ranking noble of the island of Nayau and Lakeba
.
Qoma was the elder brother of Delaivugalei; the latter the father of Niumataiwalu. Both were sons of Kalouyalewa, who was the brother of Buivaroro (the second Tui Nayau), and they had one sister, Adi Keletu that was married to Noco in Rewa. Kalouyalewa's father was Tuivanuakula 2 and otherwise known as Tuinaoaoasara.
Niumataiwalu killed his uncle Qoma and his sons, in retribution for the murder of his own parents and sibling. This series of events eventually paved the way for his descendants overlordship of both these islands and the rest of Lau. In establishing his dynasty he is often recognised as the first Vuanirewa high chief or Roko Sau of the Lau Islands.
, escaped the kin slaying carried out by Niumataiwalu who was hidden by the people of Waciwaci, kinfolk of his mother. This surviving son of Qoma was to have an instrumental role in maintaining the fortunes of the Vuanirewa, under the reign of Niumataiwalu's grandson, Malani
. Delailoa's lineage relocated and remained on the island of Nayau whilst the lineage of Delaivugalei, from whence the Vuanirewa Clan sprung, has been located in the island of Lakeba ever since. Delailoa's descendants still live on Nayau and have continued to use the name of Niumataiwalu to date, although they are descended from his elder slain brother, Qoma. It is also why this lineage of Qoma is recognized ceremonially as ulumatua or elder to their Lakeba Vuanirewa cousins. Noah is the greatest Niumataiwalu
or Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy
. The adulterous affair did not come to light until the Radini Levuka realized she was pregnant, and though she and her child, Banuve Baleivavalagi, were not harmed, the Vunivalu bided his time and planned revenge for this offence upon himself and his noble household. He tendered the support of two Ono-i-Lau
chiefs, Saunikalou and Radua who were visiting Bau at the time and were subjects of Niumataiwalu, by presenting them with a tabua
made of black stone and requesting for the murder of their overlord.
In time Niumataiwalu visited Matokano Village in Ono-i-Lau
and a welcoming feast was accordingly prepared for him. This was also an occasion the two conspiring chiefs saw as an opportunity to exact the earlier instructions of the Vunivalu. As all weapons were forbidden in the area where the kava ceremony was to take place, Saunikalou hid a war club in a hollowed out banana stem and instructed his young son to play with it as a toy where the ceremony occurred. When the first appropriations of kava drink was being given to Niumataiwalu, unsuspecting he lowered his head, at which the same time Saunikalou grabbed the hidden weapon and struck him. The first blow did not kill Niumataiwalu, and he fled towards the beach in the hope of gaining aid from some of his men. He was however overpowered by Saunikalou and his men, and was clubbed to death.
Local legend states that the area where Niumataiwalu was killed is cursed for the spilling of his noble blood. The vegetation in this area called "Cuga" still retains a whitish tinge amidst a surrounding area of deep green, as it is believed by locals to be cursed. Due to its tragic history, this area is the only place on the island not belonging to the people of Ono-i-Lau as it traditionally belongs to the Vuanirewa and remains so today. It is interesting to note that in the 20th century, the Vuanirewa descendants of Niumataiwalu made attempts to retrieve his remains for reburial in Tubou
, Lakeba.
Vuanirewa
The Vuanirewa is the ruling tribe of the Lau Islands, a scattered group of more than a hundred islands and reefs along the eastern edge of Fiji.- Origins :...
dynasty, a noble clan of the Lau Islands
Lau Islands
The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...
(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...
) from which the Tui Nayau
Tui Nayau
Tui Nayau is the title held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. When translated Tui Nayau means Lord of Nayau, an island north of Lakeba, the latter accepted by many to be the chiefly island in the Lauan...
is chosen. Niumataiwalu was the son of Delainavugalei, a high ranking noble of the island of Nayau and Lakeba
Lakeba
Lakeba is an island in Fiji's Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. It is fertile and well watered, and encircled by a 29-kilometer road. Its closest neighbors are Aiwa...
.
Qoma was the elder brother of Delaivugalei; the latter the father of Niumataiwalu. Both were sons of Kalouyalewa, who was the brother of Buivaroro (the second Tui Nayau), and they had one sister, Adi Keletu that was married to Noco in Rewa. Kalouyalewa's father was Tuivanuakula 2 and otherwise known as Tuinaoaoasara.
Niumataiwalu killed his uncle Qoma and his sons, in retribution for the murder of his own parents and sibling. This series of events eventually paved the way for his descendants overlordship of both these islands and the rest of Lau. In establishing his dynasty he is often recognised as the first Vuanirewa high chief or Roko Sau of the Lau Islands.
The Beginning of a Dynasty
Only one of Qoma's sons, DelailoaDelailoa
Delailoa was the son of Qoma who survived the revenge killing of Niumataiwalu on his father and other siblings. He was saved when his mother's people from Waciwaci in Lakeba, hid him from Niumataiwalu...
, escaped the kin slaying carried out by Niumataiwalu who was hidden by the people of Waciwaci, kinfolk of his mother. This surviving son of Qoma was to have an instrumental role in maintaining the fortunes of the Vuanirewa, under the reign of Niumataiwalu's grandson, Malani
Malani
Roko Malani was the eldest son of Rasolo, the first Tui Nayau , and of Laufitu a high-ranking lady of Totoya and Tongan descent. He succeeded to the title Roko Sau, after engineering a successful coup d'état and slaying his uncle, Matawalu, the fourth Roko Sau, in battle...
. Delailoa's lineage relocated and remained on the island of Nayau whilst the lineage of Delaivugalei, from whence the Vuanirewa Clan sprung, has been located in the island of Lakeba ever since. Delailoa's descendants still live on Nayau and have continued to use the name of Niumataiwalu to date, although they are descended from his elder slain brother, Qoma. It is also why this lineage of Qoma is recognized ceremonially as ulumatua or elder to their Lakeba Vuanirewa cousins. Noah is the greatest Niumataiwalu
Legend, Scandal and Death
Traditional legend has it that Niumataiwalu was renowned not only for his valour in battle but also for his beauty. This latter attribute would eventually attract the attention of one of the noble ladies of Bau, causing an illicit affair and leading to his eventual demise, for the lady was the Radini Levuka, wife of 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...
or Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy
Kubuna 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...
. The adulterous affair did not come to light until the Radini Levuka realized she was pregnant, and though she and her child, Banuve Baleivavalagi, were not harmed, the Vunivalu bided his time and planned revenge for this offence upon himself and his noble household. He tendered the support of two Ono-i-Lau
Ono-i-Lau
Ono-i-Lau is a volcanic and coral island in Fiji's Lau archipelago.One of the southernmost of the Lau Islands, it is located at 20.80° South and 178.75° East, and occupies an area of 7.9 square kilometers. It has a maximum elevation of 113 meters. It is 90 kilometers southsouthwest of Vatoa, the...
chiefs, Saunikalou and Radua who were visiting Bau at the time and were subjects of Niumataiwalu, by presenting them with a tabua
Tabua
A tabua is a polished tooth of a sperm whale that is an important cultural item in Fijian society. They were traditionally given as gifts for atonement or esteem , and were important in negotiations between rival chiefs. The dead men would be buried with their tabua, along with war clubs and even...
made of black stone and requesting for the murder of their overlord.
In time Niumataiwalu visited Matokano Village in Ono-i-Lau
Ono-i-Lau
Ono-i-Lau is a volcanic and coral island in Fiji's Lau archipelago.One of the southernmost of the Lau Islands, it is located at 20.80° South and 178.75° East, and occupies an area of 7.9 square kilometers. It has a maximum elevation of 113 meters. It is 90 kilometers southsouthwest of Vatoa, the...
and a welcoming feast was accordingly prepared for him. This was also an occasion the two conspiring chiefs saw as an opportunity to exact the earlier instructions of the Vunivalu. As all weapons were forbidden in the area where the kava ceremony was to take place, Saunikalou hid a war club in a hollowed out banana stem and instructed his young son to play with it as a toy where the ceremony occurred. When the first appropriations of kava drink was being given to Niumataiwalu, unsuspecting he lowered his head, at which the same time Saunikalou grabbed the hidden weapon and struck him. The first blow did not kill Niumataiwalu, and he fled towards the beach in the hope of gaining aid from some of his men. He was however overpowered by Saunikalou and his men, and was clubbed to death.
Local legend states that the area where Niumataiwalu was killed is cursed for the spilling of his noble blood. The vegetation in this area called "Cuga" still retains a whitish tinge amidst a surrounding area of deep green, as it is believed by locals to be cursed. Due to its tragic history, this area is the only place on the island not belonging to the people of Ono-i-Lau as it traditionally belongs to the Vuanirewa and remains so today. It is interesting to note that in the 20th century, the Vuanirewa descendants of Niumataiwalu made attempts to retrieve his remains for reburial in Tubou
Tubou
Tubou is a village on the Fijian island of Lakeba. One of eight villages on Lakeba, it is considered the capital of the Lau Islands, being the seat of the Vuanirewa clan, a powerful chiefly family from which Fiji's longtime Prime Minister and President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and one of Fiji's...
, Lakeba.
A Noble Lineage begins
Niumataiwalu had three wives from which he had many children. Four of his sons would eventually in turn succeed to his title. The recorded wives and children of this chief in order of seniority were:- By wife of Vunivalu of Bau Radini Levuka
- Banuve Baleivavalagi
- By his first wife Tarau of Tovu TotoyaTarau of Tovu TotoyaTarau of Totoya was the first wife of Niumataiwalu, founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty, or noble clan, of the Lau Islands .She was the mother of two Roko Sau’s of the Lau Islands, Uluilakeba I and Rasolo. Oral history indicates that she was the daughter of the High Chief of Totoya, and because of her...
- SivokiSivokiSivoki Volitilakeba was the eldest child and only daughter of Niumataiwalu, first Roko Sau and High Chief of the Lau Islands. Oral history has it that Sivoki was exceedingly beautiful, a trait she most likely inherited from her father and for which she was eventually used for, in strengthening...
- Uluilakeba IUluilakeba IUluilakeba I was the second child and eldest son of Niumataiwalu. He succeeded to his fathers title, becoming the second Roko Sau and High Chief of the Lau Islands, upon the latter’s death in Ono-i-Lau. He was the progenitor of the senior and eldest of the four noble households in the Vuanirewa...
- RasoloRasoloRasolo was the second son of Niumataiwalu, founder of the Vuanirewa dynasty or noble clan of the Lau Islands in Fiji.-Vuanirewa:Rasolo became the third Roko Sau of the Lau Islands and first installed holder of the title Tui Nayau. According to oral history, when Rasolo and the rest of his family...
- Mokoi
- Sivoki
- By his second wife Uma of Nukunuku
- MatawaluMatawaluMatawalu was the son of Niumataiwalu, first Roko Sau of Lau and Uma of Nukunuku. He became the fourth Roko Sau, ruler of the Lau Islands, after the death of his brother Rasolo, but never succeeded to the title Tui Nayau. He had been similarly exiled to Nayau like Rasolo by his elder brother...
- Matawalu
- By his third wife (name unknown) from Cakaudrove
- Lubati