Vunivalu of Bau
Encyclopedia
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.
in the early 19th century after a series of murders and reprisals. His son Seru Epenisa Cakobau
however was allowed to remain in Bau during his fathers exile. Cakobau gained power by subverting the Lasakau people to plot and execute the overthrow of the ruling group, led by Ratu Ravulo Vakayaliyalo, in 1837; Seru Epenisa Cakobau then reinstated his father as ruler.
Cakobau eventually succeeded to the title himself. He created much of its prestige by styling himself King of Fiji; he led the process that culminated in cession of the islands to the United Kingdom
in 1874
The position has been vacant since the death of the last Vunivalu, Ratu Sir George Cakobau
, in 1989.
Ratu George Cakobau, Jr.
(son of the last Vunivalu) announced that the chiefs of Matanitu o Bau (the traditional chiefly government of Bau, which includes the districts of Dravo, Namata
, Nausori, and Nuku
), had selected four chiefly candidates, to be submitted to the Tui Kaba clan, which will be asked to choose one of them as the next Vunivalu. The four candidates are Ratu George Cakobau, Jr. himself, his brother Ratu Epenisa Cakobau
, Ratu George Kadavulevu Naulivou, and former Vice-President Ratu Jope Seniloli
. A second meeting held a week later tentatively proposed Senator Cakobau as the new Vunivalu.
Senator Cakobau's appointment has not been finalized and is not without controversy. Adi Finau Tabakaucoro
, a member of the Tui Kaba clan and a senior chief, complained on 27 June that the proper procedures were not being followed. The new Vunivalu should be elected by the whole clan, she said, rather than chosen by a few elders. She thought it wrong to exclude from the list of candidates the name of Senator Cakobau's sister, Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakobau, because she was the eldest child of the last Vunivalu.
, Lau
. The wife of the Vunivalu is titled Radi Levuka.
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...
, loosely translated the title means Warlord of Bau
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...
or Root of War. The succession to the title does not follow primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
, but the candidate must be a high ranking member of the Tui Kaba clan.
A brief history
The Vunivalu was not always the senior Chieftain in Kubuna and Bau. The title was considered subordinate to the Roko Tui Bau. Power struggles between the various chiefly households came to a head with the exile of the Vunivalu Tanoa VisawaqaTanoa Visawaqa
Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa was a Fijian Chieftain who held the title Vunivalu of Bau. With Adi Savusavu, one of his nine wives, he was the father of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, who succeeded in unifying Fiji into a single kingdom.- Installation :...
in the early 19th century after a series of murders and reprisals. His son 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:...
however was allowed to remain in Bau during his fathers exile. Cakobau gained power by subverting the Lasakau people to plot and execute the overthrow of the ruling group, led by Ratu Ravulo Vakayaliyalo, in 1837; Seru Epenisa Cakobau then reinstated his father as ruler.
Cakobau eventually succeeded to the title himself. He created much of its prestige by styling himself King of Fiji; he led the process that culminated in cession of 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 position has been vacant since the death of the last Vunivalu, 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...
, in 1989.
Search for a successor
Recently, there have been moves to choose a successor. On 9 June 2005, SenatorSenate (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...
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...
(son of the last Vunivalu) announced that the chiefs of Matanitu o Bau (the traditional chiefly government of Bau, which includes the districts of Dravo, Namata
Namata
Namata may refer to two villages in Greece:*Namata, Kozani, a village in the Kozani prefecture*Namata, Larissa, a village in the Larissa prefecture...
, Nausori, and Nuku
Nuku
Nuku was a traditional province of the island of Hiva Oa in pre-European times. It did not function as a unified governmental unit, but rather as a confederation of local tribes during times of war with tribes from Hiva Oa's other province, Pepane...
), had selected four chiefly candidates, to be submitted to the Tui Kaba clan, which will be asked to choose one of them as the next Vunivalu. The four candidates are Ratu George Cakobau, Jr. himself, his brother Ratu Epenisa 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 Kadavulevu Naulivou, and former Vice-President 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...
. A second meeting held a week later tentatively proposed Senator Cakobau as the new Vunivalu.
Senator Cakobau's appointment has not been finalized and is not without controversy. Adi Finau Tabakaucoro
Finau Tabakaucoro
Adi Finau Tamari Tabakaucoro is a Fijian politician, who served as Assistant Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare in the interim Cabinet formed by Laisenia Qarase in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000. She held office till an elected government took power in September 2001...
, a member of the Tui Kaba clan and a senior chief, complained on 27 June that the proper procedures were not being followed. The new Vunivalu should be elected by the whole clan, she said, rather than chosen by a few elders. She thought it wrong to exclude from the list of candidates the name of Senator Cakobau's sister, Adi Samanunu Talakuli Cakobau, because she was the eldest child of the last Vunivalu.
Other titles
The Vunivalu when installed, also takes the title of Tui Levuka, as he is the traditional leader of the Levuka people of LakebaLakeba
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...
, Lau
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...
. The wife of the Vunivalu is titled Radi Levuka.
Vunivalu of Bau
| Order | Vunivalu | Reigned | Lived |
| 1. | Ratu Nailatikau | ? - 1770 | ? - 1770 |
| 2. | Ratu Banuve Baleivavalagi | 1770–1803 | ? - February 1803 |
| 3. | Ratu Naulivou Ramatenikutu | 1803–1829 | ? - 1829 |
| 4. | Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa Tanoa Visawaqa Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa was a Fijian Chieftain who held the title Vunivalu of Bau. With Adi Savusavu, one of his nine wives, he was the father of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, who succeeded in unifying Fiji into a single kingdom.- Installation :... |
1829–1832 | ? - 8 December 1852 |
| 5. | Navuaka Komainaqaranikula Tui Veikoso | 1832–1837 | ? - ? |
| . | Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa Tanoa Visawaqa Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa was a Fijian Chieftain who held the title Vunivalu of Bau. With Adi Savusavu, one of his nine wives, he was the father of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, who succeeded in unifying Fiji into a single kingdom.- Installation :... |
1837–1852 | s.a. |
| 6. | Ratu 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:... |
1852–1883 | 1815 - February 1883 |
| 6. | Ratu Epeli Nailatikau Epeli Nailatikau I Ratu Epeli Nailatikau I was a Fijian Paramount Chief, who was posthumously made the Vunivalu of Bau. He was the eldest son of the first Tui Viti, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau and his first wife, Adi Litia Samanunu.... † |
1883–1901 | 1842–1901 |
| 7. | Ratu Penaia Kadavulevu Penaia Kadavulevu Ratu Penaia Kadavulevu was the son of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, upon whose death in 1901 he inherited the title of Vunivalu of Bau, the paramount chief of the Kubuna Confederacy of Fiji.... † |
1901–1914 | ? - 1914 |
| 8. | Ratu Popi Seniloli Popi Seniloli Ratu Popi Seniloli was the Vunivalu of Bau, and father of the former Governor-General of Fiji, Ratu George Kadavulevu CakobauThe son of Ratu Joseva Celua, who was the third son of the Tui Viti Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau and Adi Litia Samanunu, Ratu Popi inherited the title from his cousin, Ratu... |
1914–1936 | ? - 1936 |
| 9. | Ratu Tevita Naulivou† | 1936–1957 | ? - 1957 |
| 10. | 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... |
1957–1989 | 6 November 1912 - 25 November 1989 |
| † Never officially installed as Vunivalu, but posthumously generally recognized as such. Note that the position of Vunivalu has often fallen vacant for lengthy periods. It is thought that disagreements about the succession have kept the title vacant since the death of Ratu Sir George Cakobau in 1989. |
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