Semesa Sikivou
Encyclopedia
Semesa Koroikilai Sikivou (1917 – 1990) was a Fiji
an academic, politician, and diplomat.
's University of Auckland
, and went on to become the first Fijian to acquire a post graduate degree from the London School of Economics
.
He taught at Suva Methodist Primary School in the 1930s and among his students was the future ombudsman
of Fiji, Sir Moti Tikaram
.
, was serving as principal of Toorak Boys’ School. Whilst other overseas teachers immediately left Fiji to await the end of the war, the determined missionary principal, Mr Donnelly sent a circular to all members of the senior classes of Classes Six, Seven, and Eight of Toorak Boys School, inviting volunteers to come away with him, to continue their education. After consultation with the heads of the Methodist Church, he was given permission to use the Principal’s residence at the Davuilevu Technical School. As a result, he and 50 volunteers from Toorak Boys School in Suva, met at the Principal’s residence on the 3rd of March, 1943. Their first classrooms were the two master bedrooms in the house and the long verandah on the eastern side as their library. There were only two classes and two teachers; the late Mssrs W.E Donnelly
and Semesa Sikivou.
In the 1943 Methodist Church Annual Conference, Mr Donnelly was given permission to expand his classes along the same ridge and as a result, the boys themselves, with his and Semesa Sikivou's guidance, built three large bures, where the teachers staff quarters presently stand. He was also directed to name the new school, Lelean Memorial School
, in memory of a long serving and beloved missionary in Fiji, the Reverend Charles Oswald Lelean
. Rev Lelean was an Australian missionary who served in Fiji for 36 years, from 1914 to 1934.
Amongst his students were Rusiate Nayacakalou
, who later became the first South Pacific Islander to graduate with a PhD and Jimione Samisoni
who became the first Fijian to become the Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine
.
in the 1960s, and in January 1963 he was one of eight to sign the Wakaya Letter, which affirmed the principles of Fijian
paramountcy. When Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom
in 1970, he was appointed Fiji's first Ambassador
to the United Nations
, serving until 1976. He reentered politics
in the 1980s, and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Sikivou was offered a Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II
, but declined it, saying that it was his honour to serve her without remuneration.
's Guardians of the Spirit and the Wise Counsel, and as such was a member of the traditional court of the Paramount Chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy
. He had strong ties to the Provinces of Namosi, Naitasiri, and Verata.
He was married twice, first to Seini Ratuvou of the Vutia District of Rewa, with whom he had one daughter, Ateca (who died of asthma
at the age of one) and three sons: Navitalai, Rokocanini, and Metuisela. His second marriage was to Salote Tabuanitoga of Kadavu Island
. With her he had two sons: Jese and Mosese, and a daughter, Vasiti Sikivou-Waqa.
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 academic, politician, and diplomat.
Education and career
Sikivou graduated from New ZealandNew 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 University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
, and went on to become the first Fijian to acquire a post graduate degree from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
He taught at Suva Methodist Primary School in the 1930s and among his students was the future ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
of Fiji, Sir Moti Tikaram
Moti Tikaram
Sir Moti Tikaram, KBE, has been a judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji, the first ombudsman of independent Fiji and a soccer administrator. He was the first local person to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Fiji...
.
Lelean Memorial School
Towards the end of 1942, at the height of the Pacific Campaign of the Second World War, the Colonial Authority was issued a command to close all urban schools and surrender their compounds to the military, to be used as military camps for the war campaign against the Japanese threat. At that time, a notable missionary teacher by the name of Mr William Earnest DonnellyWilliam Earnest Donnelly
William Earnest Donnelly was a New Zealander, who became a teacher and General Secretary of the Students’ Christian Movement in New Zealand, in the early 1930s and early 40s...
, was serving as principal of Toorak Boys’ School. Whilst other overseas teachers immediately left Fiji to await the end of the war, the determined missionary principal, Mr Donnelly sent a circular to all members of the senior classes of Classes Six, Seven, and Eight of Toorak Boys School, inviting volunteers to come away with him, to continue their education. After consultation with the heads of the Methodist Church, he was given permission to use the Principal’s residence at the Davuilevu Technical School. As a result, he and 50 volunteers from Toorak Boys School in Suva, met at the Principal’s residence on the 3rd of March, 1943. Their first classrooms were the two master bedrooms in the house and the long verandah on the eastern side as their library. There were only two classes and two teachers; the late Mssrs W.E Donnelly
William Earnest Donnelly
William Earnest Donnelly was a New Zealander, who became a teacher and General Secretary of the Students’ Christian Movement in New Zealand, in the early 1930s and early 40s...
and Semesa Sikivou.
In the 1943 Methodist Church Annual Conference, Mr Donnelly was given permission to expand his classes along the same ridge and as a result, the boys themselves, with his and Semesa Sikivou's guidance, built three large bures, where the teachers staff quarters presently stand. He was also directed to name the new school, Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School
Lelean Memorial School is one of the largest co-ed schools in Fiji today. It was established in 1943 and is run by the Methodist Church of Fiji. It is co-located at the Davuilevu Methodist Compound with the and the Young People's Department, which runs training for Methodist catechists...
, in memory of a long serving and beloved missionary in Fiji, the Reverend Charles Oswald Lelean
Charles Oswald Lelean
Charles Oswald Lelean was born in 1867 in Tasmania, Australia and died at the age of 72 on 14 September 1942. He had spent a considerable part of his life being a missionary in Fiji. Rev Lelean served in Fiji for 36 years.-History of the Leleans:...
. Rev Lelean was an Australian missionary who served in Fiji for 36 years, from 1914 to 1934.
Amongst his students were Rusiate Nayacakalou
Rusiate Nayacakalou
Rusiate Nayacakalou was a Fijian social anthropologist who was a graduate of the universities of New Zealand and London. Following his education at Lelean Memorial School, in Nausori, Fiji Nayacakalou joined the Fijian public service where his excellent academic potential was recognised by the...
, who later became the first South Pacific Islander to graduate with a PhD and Jimione Samisoni
Jimione Samisoni
Jimione Isimeli Samisoni was the late former Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine .-Biography:Samisoni attended Lelean Memorial School in 1949, passed his Senior Cambridge exams and matriculated to the then Central School of Medicine...
who became the first Fijian to become the Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine
Fiji School of Medicine
The Fiji School of Medicine is a tertiary institution based in Suva, Fiji. Originally established in 1885 as the Suva Medical School. After merger with leading institutions in 2010, FSM is now called called College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences under Fiji National University. It striving...
.
Political Career
Sikivou served as a member of the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council (Fiji)
The Fijian Legislative Council was the colonial precursor to the present-day Parliament, which came into existence when Fiji became independent on 10 October 1970.-The first Legislative Council:...
in the 1960s, and in January 1963 he was one of eight to sign the Wakaya Letter, which affirmed the principles of Fijian
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
paramountcy. When Fiji gained its independence from 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 1970, he was appointed Fiji's first 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 the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, serving until 1976. He reentered 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 1980s, and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Sikivou was offered a Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, but declined it, saying that it was his honour to serve her without remuneration.
Personal life
Sikivou, who hailed from Rewa Province, belonged to the tribe of the Roko Tui DreketiRoko Tui Dreketi
The Roko Tui Dreketi is the Paramount Chief of Fiji's Rewa Province and of the Burebasaga Confederacy, to which Rewa belongs.-Details on the title:...
's Guardians of the Spirit and the Wise Counsel, and as such was a member of the traditional court of the Paramount Chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy
Burebasaga Confederacy
Burebasaga is the largest of the three confederacies that make up Fiji's House of Chiefs, to which all Fijian chiefs belong.-Composition of Burebasaga:...
. He had strong ties to the Provinces of Namosi, Naitasiri, and Verata.
He was married twice, first to Seini Ratuvou of the Vutia District of Rewa, with whom he had one daughter, Ateca (who died of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
at the age of one) and three sons: Navitalai, Rokocanini, and Metuisela. His second marriage was to Salote Tabuanitoga of Kadavu Island
Kadavu
Kadavu , with an area of , is the fourth largest island in Fiji, and the largest island in the Kadavu Group, a volcanic archipelago consisting of Kadavu, Ono, Galoa and a number of smaller islands in the Great Astrolabe Reef...
. With her he had two sons: Jese and Mosese, and a daughter, Vasiti Sikivou-Waqa.