Tailevu
Encyclopedia
Tailevu is one of the 14 provinces of Fiji
. One of eight Provinces based in Viti Levu
, Fiji's largest island, its 755 square kilometers occupy the south-eastern fringe of the island, along with some central areas. At the 2007 census
, the most recent to date, it had a population of 55,692, the fifth largest among the Provinces. The main urban area of Tailevu is Nausori
with a population of 21,645 in 1996.
Tailevu includes the districts of Bau, Nakelo, Verata, Wainibuka, and Sawakasa. Bau District includes Bau Island
, the seat of the Kubuna Confederacy
, one of three traditional chief
ly hierarchies in Fiji. Kubuna's Paramount Chief, called the Vunivalu of Bau
, is generally considered the most senior such chief in Fiji. Holders of the title included Seru Epenisa Cakobau
, who forged the first nation-state out of the Fiji Islands and established the Kingdom of Viti, having himself crowned as King in 1871 before ceding the islands to the United Kingdom
in 1874. The last to hold the title was Ratu Sir George Cakobau
, who was also Governor-General of Fiji from 1973 to 1983. Since Cakobau's death in 1989, the office of Vunivalu has been vacant; this is thought to be partly because of disagreements over the succession. Discussions among the clans of Bau are currently
underway to find a successor, with Cakobau's son, Ratu George Cakobau
, considered a likely candidate.
Another Tailevu native, famous in a different way, is George Speight
, who fronted the coup d'état
that overthrew Fiji's elected government in 2000. Ratu Jope Seniloli
, who was forced to resign the Vice-Presidency of Fiji in late 2004 following his conviction for coup-related offences, is also from Tailevu.
The Indigenous Fijians land, water ways, foreshore and sea-bed and fishing grounds is held in perpetuity among other special privileges they are entitled to as the Native People of Fiji.
Provinces of Fiji
The Provinces of Fiji , , are the 14 administrative units into which the country is divided, particularly in relation to the provision of resources and services to the indigenous Fijian population by the Fijian Affairs Board...
. One of eight Provinces based in 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 :...
, Fiji's largest island, its 755 square kilometers occupy the south-eastern fringe of the island, along with some central areas. At the 2007 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the most recent to date, it had a population of 55,692, the fifth largest among the Provinces. The main urban area of Tailevu is Nausori
Nausori
Nausori is a town in Fiji. It had a population of 47,604 at the 2007 census, the most recent to date. This makes it the fourth most populous municipality in the country. Situated 19 kilometers out of Suva, it forms one pole of the burgeoning Suva-Nausori corridor.Nausori grew up around Fiji's...
with a population of 21,645 in 1996.
Tailevu includes the districts of Bau, Nakelo, Verata, Wainibuka, and Sawakasa. Bau District includes Bau Island
Bau Island
Bau is a small island in Fiji, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu.-History:With the aid of Charlie Savage, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force...
, the seat 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...
, one of three traditional 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"...
ly hierarchies in Fiji. Kubuna's Paramount Chief, called the 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...
, is generally considered the most senior such chief in Fiji. Holders of the title included 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:...
, who forged the first nation-state out of the Fiji Islands and established the Kingdom of Viti, having himself crowned as King 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. The last to hold the title was 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...
, who was also Governor-General of Fiji from 1973 to 1983. Since Cakobau's death in 1989, the office of Vunivalu has been vacant; this is thought to be partly because of disagreements over the succession. Discussions among the clans of Bau are currently
December 2005
-Portal:Current events:-News collections and sources:See: Wikipedia:News collections and sources....
underway to find a successor, with Cakobau's son, Ratu George Cakobau
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...
, considered a likely candidate.
Another Tailevu native, famous in a different way, is George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
, who fronted the coup d'état
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
that overthrew Fiji's elected government in 2000. Ratu Jope Seniloli
Jope Seniloli
Ratu Jope Naucabalavu Seniloli is a Fijian chief who holds the title of Turaga Taukei Naua and who served as Fiji's Vice-President from 25 March 2001 to 29 November 2004, when he was forced to resign following his conviction for treason on August 6 2004, and the rejection of his appeal early in...
, who was forced to resign the Vice-Presidency of Fiji in late 2004 following his conviction for coup-related offences, is also from Tailevu.
The Indigenous Fijians land, water ways, foreshore and sea-bed and fishing grounds is held in perpetuity among other special privileges they are entitled to as the Native People of Fiji.