Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli
Encyclopedia
Adi
Litia Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli (born 1940) is a Fiji
an chief
, politician, and diplomat. The eldest child of Ratu Sir George Cakobau
(the late Vunivalu of Bau
and Governor-General), Talakuli has held a number of senior positions in the Fijian government. She was Minister for Fijian Affairs in 1994 and 1995, and was considered as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency in 1997. She became Fiji's High Commissioner
to Malaysia and Ambassador
to Thailand
and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 1999
Appointed to the Fijian Senate
in June 2006 as one of nine nominees of the Fijian government, Talakuli was also appointed to the Cabinet
as a Minister without portfolio
. As the eldest child of the last Vunivalu of Bau, she is considered the senior-most chief of the Kubuna Confederacy
, however is not a member of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga
.
(the late Vunivalu of Bau
and Governor-General). Her siblings include Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau
, Ratu George Cakobau, Jr
and Adi Litia Qalirea Cakobau
. She married Manasa Talakuli, who was the first Fijian to be commissioned in the British Army
.
Adi (title)
Adi is a title used by Fijian women of chiefly rank, namely female members of chiefly clans. It is the equivalent of the Ratu title used by male chiefs. It is in general use throughout most of Fiji, although on Kadavu Island, Bulou is used instead....
Litia Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli (born 1940) is 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"...
, politician, and diplomat. The eldest child of Ratu Sir George Cakobau
George Cakobau
Ratu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau, GCMG, GCVO, OBE was Governor General of Fiji from 1973 to 1983. A great-grandson of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the King of Bau who had unified all the tribes of Fiji under his reign in the mid-1800s and subsequently ceded the islands to the United Kingdom in...
(the late Vunivalu of Bau
Vunivalu 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...
and Governor-General), Talakuli has held a number of senior positions in the Fijian government. She was Minister for Fijian Affairs in 1994 and 1995, and was considered as a candidate for the Vice-Presidency in 1997. She became Fiji's High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Malaysia and Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 1999
Appointed to the Fijian Senate
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
in June 2006 as one of nine nominees of the Fijian government, Talakuli was also appointed to the Cabinet
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...
as a Minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. As the eldest child of the last Vunivalu of Bau, she is considered the senior-most 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...
, however is not a member of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
.
Personal life
Talakuli is the eldest child of Ratu Sir George CakobauGeorge Cakobau
Ratu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau, GCMG, GCVO, OBE was Governor General of Fiji from 1973 to 1983. A great-grandson of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the King of Bau who had unified all the tribes of Fiji under his reign in the mid-1800s and subsequently ceded the islands to the United Kingdom in...
(the late Vunivalu of Bau
Vunivalu 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...
and Governor-General). Her siblings include Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau
Epenisa Cakobau
Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau is a Fijian chief. Cakobau is a senior member of the Tui Kaba clan and a high chief on the island of Bau. The son of the late Ratu Sir George Cakobau , the former Vunivalu of Bau Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau is a Fijian chief. Cakobau is a senior member of the Tui Kaba...
, Ratu George Cakobau, Jr
George Cakobau, Jr.
Ratu George Cakobau, Jr., also known as Ratu Jioji Cakobau, is a Fijian chief and political leader. The son of the late Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, who was also the Vunivalu of Bau...
and Adi Litia Qalirea Cakobau
Litia Cakobau
Adi Litia Qalirea Cakobau is a Bau high Fijian Chief and political leader. Cakobau, the daughter of the late Ratu Sir George Cakobau, who was Fiji's Governor-General from 1973 to 1983, was appointed to the Senate in 2001 as one of nine nominees of the Fijian government...
. She married Manasa Talakuli, who was the first Fijian to be commissioned in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.