Nakorotubu

Nakorotubu is a district in Fiji's Ra Province. It is made up seven sub-districts or Tikina makawa, namely, Kavula, Nakorotubu, Navitilevu, Bure-i-wai, Bure-i-vanua, Mataso, and Nakuailava.

Geography

The first four are coastal districts with extensive inland undulating and rugged terrain, while the rest are all inland. Fishing, sugar cane, coconut, taro, tapioca and a range of local vegetables are the main trading merchandise.

Chiefly title

Vueti, the head of Kubuna, (son of Paula, the chief from Davetalevu in Moturiki and Buisavulu from Bureta, Ovalau, the eldest daughter of Lutunasobasoba) was awarded with the Tui Viti sacred stone (tawake) which signified him as the traditional head of Fiji Tui Viti at the spiritual meeting place in Bua along the Tobabasaga Bay near Nabukadra village in Ra for avenging the killing of Degei's rooster (Turukawa) and for banishing the twins from Nakauvadra. When Vueti reached Bau, he ordered for a sacred spiritual temple (bure kalou) to be built and the Tui Viti sacred stone award (tawake) was buried at the foundation base (yavu) of the sacred temple.

Vueti as the founder of Bau island (named after his original residence in Wainibuka) was bestowed with the Roko Tui Bau title and named the sacred temple (bure kalou) as Vatanitawake or the 'cover or shelter of the Tui Viti award'. In a confidential private report recorded on the 1918 NLC files, Rt Meli Salabogi (2) explains that his ancestors were the 1st born direct descendant of Vueti- the Roko Tui Bau (from a one-off relationship between Vueti and a women in Suva near Bureiwai).

Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) declared Nakorotubu as an independent state in 1860 to protest of Ratu Seru Cakobau declaring himself as a self-styled Tui Viti during the Deed of Cession negotiation with Great Britain (Haynes. S.A 1984).

The cause of the protest from Ratu Meli Salabogi Salabogi (1) to the British Crown must have been inspired from an ancestral feud and dislike which had trickled down on a sex scandal by Niumataiwalu, high chief from the Vuanirewa clan in Lau (father of Uluilakeba 1) with Raivalita (2)'s younger brother's wife Adi Davila of Nairai (Nadurucoko (2)'s wife- Radini Levuka). This resulted in the birth of Banuve who begat Tanoa and who begat Cakobau (Fergus Clunie, Fiji Museum, Julia Brooke-White - 1986).

Both Raivalita (2) and Nadurucoko (2) were sons of Nailatikau Nabuinivuaka (1) (1st Vunivalu of Kubuna) and grandsons of Nadurucoko 1 (1st born of Vueti), the ruler of Korolevu Fort near Dewala creek in the interior of Nakorotubu in the Ra province (Native Lands Commission (NLC), 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, 1918)

Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) (1st born lineage of the 1st Vunivalu of Kubuna, Nailatikau 1/1st born lineage of Vueti the Roko Tui Bau) together with other Nakorotubu and Viwa chiefs raised their concerns about Cakobau (being Niumataiwalu's descendant and not of the 2nd Vunivalu-Nadurucoko 2) self-declaring himself as Tui Viti (Smythe Report to Queen Victoria). Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) instructed his younger brother, Sesebualala who had signed the 1865 preliminary deed of cession in Levuka not to return to Nakorotubu. As a follow up from this protest, Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) declared Nakorotubu as an independent state from Fiji in 1860. (Haynes. S.A 1984). The deed of cession to Great Britain was put on hold until 1874 when Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) had passed on.

Nadurucoko 1, the tyrant Korolevu fort ruler (1st born of Vueti, the head of Kubuna and recipient of the Tui Viti award) was born under controversial and supernatural circumstances when he kicked and threw himself out of his mother's womb who was living along the Dewala creek. The mother was terrified to see a fetus covered in blood complaining and lying on the mat of the Fijian bure, saying that he is the son of Vueti the Roko Tui Bau who was victorious in Nakauvadra over the twins, Cirinakaumoli and Nakausabaria in the revenge war over the killing of the rooster. The mother then frighteningly unattached the umbilical cord and took the crying fetus covered in blood outside the house (bure) and blocked the entrance of the house with a piece of wood log. In the ancient days, wood logs instead of hinged doors were used to close the entrance to a bure 'nailatikau'. As evening falls, a group of elves/dwarfs (leka) along the Dewala creek heard the crying of the fetus covered in blood outside of the wood log entrance to the bure 'nailatikau', so the fetus was wrapped with white masi (white tapa) on the head and body before it was taken up in the dark by the elves/dwarfs (leka) to the Korolevu fort to Dewala or Dauwala who was in a meeting with his Dewala warriors. That was how the name 'Salabogi' or travelling in the dark' became part of the family name. It also became synonymous with the Nakorotubu warriors advancing or attacking enemies territories at night. The name Dewalarua became part of the Malani and Kapaiwai family names as well to indicate the second lineage from the Dewala women through Vueti after the Nakauvadra rooster revenge war. The fetus grew to a full grown man and possessed super natural powers and was worshiped like a God (Sau). Dewala/Dauwaka raised him at the Korolevu fort and when he passed on, Nadurucoko (1) became the next leader of Korolevu Fort.

Everyone was required to kneel on their knees when the Sau was around, so they named him as 'Nadurucoko'. He demanded that only chiefs instead of ordinary tribe members be sacrificed in earth ovens in celebration for the harvest of his bananas 'oco ni vudi' and yams plantations. Nadurucoko (1) had learned of such wicked practice while visiting his father's (Roko Tui Bau) warriors (bati) chiefs of Tui Vatoa and Tui Nasau in Kaba, Tailevu, but the difference was they were were just presenting ordinary people instead of chiefs. When he returned to Korolevu fort, he then introduced the same practice in Nakorotubu but demanded that only chiefs instead of ordinary people be sacrificed. His real intention was to eliminate all the chiefs' descendants from the Nakorotubu/Dewala area and to be left with his own descendants. His tyrant ways finally caught up with him when a chief of Dewala by the name of Vakatobai knew that his time was fast approaching to be presented for the harvest of the bananas 'oco ni vudi', so he led a rebellious group against Nadurucoko (1). Nadurucoko's step brother, Rabici (father was Dewala or Dauwala) also left and his descendants, the Roko Durucoko clan are now residing in Rewa, Bau, Naitasiri (Native Lands Commission (NLC), 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, 1918).

According to local folklore, Nadurucoko (1) was supposed to be installed as the 1st Gonesau but the elves/dwarfs (leka) that went down to fetch the water from the Dewala creek for the yaqona (kava) installation ceremony never returned out of fear that if he was to be installed, he would be more powerful and wicked. The installation never eventuated and Nadurucoko (1) sensed that there were hidden plots to eliminate him.

Nadurucoko (1) then left Korolevu Fort and stayed with his wife, Senibuli (lineage of Manamanaivalu/Manumanuivalu) and her Burelevu younger brothers at the Navakawaluwalu fort near Nabukadra on the Tobabasaga bay. Nadurucoko (1) later took revenge on Vakatobai and killed, roasted and ate him during Vakatobai's visit to the nearby Uluinaceva fort near Nabukadra. One of Vakatobai's sons, Loganimoce who was accompanying him freed himself before he could be killed as well out by running over the burning lovo (oven stone) to freedom while those that were guarding him had to run around the burning lovo, so he was given another name, Nabutulovo (stepping over the earth oven) in memory of that incident (Native Lands Commission (NLC), 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, 1918).

Nadurucoko (1) named his son 'Nailatikau' in memory of how as a fetus baby, he was found placed outside the bure entrance blocked out by a piece of wood log by the frightened mother and adding the name 'Nabuinivuaka' because his son was fond of pulling pigs' tails when he was a toddler.

As time goes on, Nadurucoko (1)'s son Nailatikau (1) murdered his brother Dranibaka during a leadership dispute near the Dewala creek (now marked as an abandoned village in the Fiji map as 'Laba', which means murder in Fijian) and ran away to his half-brother, Nacamavuto (1) (same mother in Senibuli) on the Ra coast of Kavula, who gave him a tabua whale's tooth and advised him to flee to Bau. Nailatikau (1) was escorted to Bau in a Fijian war canoe (Drua) by Malodali and the Navatu clan from Tanavuso point near Dawasamu (Native Lands Commission (NLC), 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, 1918).

Nailatikau (1) then introduced himself to his grandfather, Vueti, the Roko Tui Bau with the tabua (kaunimatanigone) in a subtle manner that he is from Dewala 'Kai Dewala' (subtle reminder of how was conceived from a Dewala mother). Roko Tui Bau also responded in a subtle manner by accepting his tabua and acknowledging him as a close relative (Native Lands Commission (NLC), 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, 1918).

Roko Tui Bau (Vueti) over a period of time observed Nailatikau's superior tactical confrontation in warfare in eliminating Vueti's enemies. (NLC Records 1918, 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna' by Ratu Isoa Natuituba). Roko Tui Bau then bestowed Nailatikau Nabuinivuaka as the first Vunivalu (Warlord) of Kubuna, arranged for Adi Kulanawa from Verata as his wife and also named Nailatikau (1) eldest son as Raivalita or Raivolita in remembrance of his father for always on the watch around for Vueti's enemies around the Fiji islands.

Nailatikau (1)'s father loyal warriors followed him to Bau (referred to as Yavusa Delai) for guarding the top of Korolevu Fort (Delainakorolevu) along the Dewala creek (leading into the Wainibuka river) in the interior of Nakorotubu. Nailatikau (1) later banished them to Levuka, Lakeba in Lau for presenting a fish harvest to two ladies that drifted from Lakeba to Bau, Adi Asinate Lagi and the sister without any prior traditional presentation to him. In Nailatikau (1)'s anger, he told the Yavusa Delai to leave Bau island immediately and settle where the two ladies had drifted from (i.e Lakeba) since they had offered the fish harvest to them first.

Nailatikau (1) named one of the two hills on Bau island as Uluinaceva in memory of Uluinaceva fort near Nabukadra village where the Yavusa Ratu used to reside and where the Dewala chief Vakatobai was killed in revenge by his father, Nadurucoko (1) and the second one as Delainakoro in short for Delainakorolevu or Korolevu fort in the interior of Nakorotubu along the Dewala creek where his father, Nadurucoko 1 used to rule before exiling to Navakawaluwalu fort near Nabukadra. The two hills were partly leveled during the construction of the Vunivalu tomb in 1982 before the Queen Elizabeth's visit for the Great Council of Chief's meeting in Bau.

When Nailatikau (1) had passed on, his older son, Raivailta (2) returned to Nakorotubu and his younger son Nadurucoko (2) became the 2nd Vunivalu. Niumataiwalu (leader of the Vuanirewa and father of Uluilakeba 1) led a delegation of the Yavusa Delai from Levuka, Lakeba in Lau to Bau to seek forgiveness to his younger son, Nadurucoko 2 (who was away in Vuna, Taveuni at that time) on the unauthorized consumption of the fish harvest that was meant for his father, Nailatikau (1) to Adi Asinate Lagi and the sister who had drifted to Bau from Lakeba. During the merry making/celebration after the forgiveness function (matanigasau/ soro) that was presented to the matanivanua in Bau, the adultery affair was committed by Nadurucoko 2's wife and Niumataiwalu which resulted in the conception and birth of Banuve who begat Tanoa and who begat Cakobau. This was also how the Vunivalu's wife's title became known as Radini Levuka or the Queen of Levuka. Nadurucoko 2 later sent a tabua vatu loa (unique black stone type - tabua) to Ono i Lau as a price for Niumataiwalu's head which resulted in his death when he was murdered by a Ono i Lau chief (Fergus Clunie, Fiji Museum, Julia Brooke-White - 1986).

Raivalita (2) was the eldest son of Ratu Nailatikau (1), the 1st Vunivalu of Kubuna, the eldest grandson of Nadurucoko (1), the 1st born of Vueti, the Roko Tui Bau and older brother of Nadurucoko (2), the 2nd Vunivalu of Kubuna.

Raivalita' (2)s son, Nabukavou had 8 siblings from different women.

1st was Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) (descendants of the Malani family, great grandfather of Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) and Dr Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani); 2nd was Di Reki (7th wife of Ratu Tanoa, Vunivalu of Bau); 3rd was Sesebualala (signed the 1865 preliminary deed of cession on behalf of Nakorotubu before the 1874 deed of cession, his descendants are the Ligaiviu family in Tavia, Ovalau); 4th was Tabaiwalu (father of Ro Lutunauga, descendants in Lomanikoro, Rewa); 5th was Nacamavuto (2) (descendants in Viwa); 6th was Uluikorotiki (descendants in Saivou, Ra and Wainunu in Bua); 7th was Nauluna (descendants in Nasau, Nayavuira, Navuniivi in Ra & Vuya in Bua); 8th was Dewalarua (1) (descendants of the Kapaiwai family, son of Moqei and grandfather of Ratu Meli Salabogi (2) that testified at the 1918 NLC hearing and great grandfather of Ratu Mara Kapaiwai (2)). Cousin with Ratu Mara Kapaiwai (1), Ratu Sukuna's grandfather through Ufia, Moqei's half sister (same mother).

(Source: NLC Kavula Tukutuku Raraba -1918: Ratu Meli Salabogi (2))

In 1909, Ratu Meli Salabogi (2) (YOB-1882), a descendant of Moqei and his cousin, Roko Tui Ra, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (1) a descendant of the half sister Ofia or Ufia, arranged for Adi Asinate Senirewa from Tubou, Lakeba, Lau, who was briefly visiting her first cousin Adi Litiana Maopa, (Ratu Madraiwiwi's wife) at the Ra provincial compound in Nanukuloa, Ra to be traditionally courted (lakovi vakavanua) by the Vanua o Nakorotubu for Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani.

Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani (YOB 1879) was a Sergeant at the Fiji Armed Constabulary Force in Levuka at that time. He then resigned from the Fiji Armed Constabulary Force to return to Nabukadra and became the British colonial chief administrator of Kavula District - 'Buli Kavula'. In the late 1910s, Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani started attending meetings and was appointed to the Executive Board Member of the Viti Kabani Company and would spent time after the Viti Kabani board meetings in Lomainkoro, Rewa at a house which was built on his grandmother- Ro Keleyani Yatovanua's yavu (one of Ratu Meli Salabogi (1)'s 8 wives). His enthusiasm and interest in attending the Viti Kabani Board meetings while holding the position of 'Buli Kavula' was of concern to the colonial administrators.

In 1918, at the NLC hearing, Ratu Meli Salabogi (2), the son of Ratu Josua Mara and Adi Salote of Nasinu, Dawasamu was installed as the 'Turaga Gonesau'. Ratu Josua Mara was the son of Dewalarua (1), the youngest brother of Ratu Meli Salabogi (1) whose mother, Moqei from Ceiekena in Lakeba was one of the 2 half sisters tokens of war, with Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi's great grandmother Ufia from Nukunuku, Lakeba after the Puakaloa tribal campaign in Lakeba. Ratu Meli Salabogi was married to Salome Likuvo from Bure in Nakorotubu and was the father of Ratu Mara Kapaiwai (2) who also held the title of Turaga Gonesau from the late 1940s to 1978. Moqei's half sister (from the same mother) Ofia/Ufia from Nukunuku in Lakeba was given to Banuve the Vunivalu from Bau who begat Vuibureta, who begat Ratu Mara Kapaiwai (1) (buried in Nabukadra after being hanged by Cakobau), who begat Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (1), who begat Ratu Sukuna and siblings.

In 1932, Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani passed away in Nabukadra, Nakorotubu, Ra at the age of 53 from a strange cold flu. Adi Litiana Maopa (Ratu Sukuna's mother), then arranged for the two siblings, Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) and his younger brother Ratu Dr Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani, to be raised at their mother's Adi Asinate Senirewa village in Tubou, Lau by their elderly cousin (veitavaleni), Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba, father of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Prime Minister and President. Ratu Tevita sent Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani to Fiji's premier boarding school, Queen Victoria School, where he was the head boy in 1940, and later study medicine at the Central Medical School (Fiji School of Medicine) and graduated as a medical doctor. Ratu Meli Salabogi, the older brother was also sent to Fiji Teachers College and graduated as a school teacher and later became a Provincial Administrator (Roko Tui) and Senator. The dried copra from the coconut plantation of the Lau Provincial Council and the Vuanirewa clan in Lakeba were arranged by Ratu Tevita to finance Dr Ratu Malani to Queen Victoria School and later to the Central Medical School, as well as to finance his older brother, Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) to attend Fiji Teacher's College.

In 1954, Ratu Tevita also arranged for his step daughter Kelesi Yabakidrau (wife's daughter from Dr Samisoni Fotu from the Yavusa Toga of Sawana, Vanua balavu) to be Dr Ratu Malani's wife when he was visiting Tubou as a medical doctor during a Lau group lymphatic filarisis vaccination trip.

In 1986, the 'Bose Vanua Cokovata Nakorotubu' held in Namarai village endorsed Ratu Dr Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani OBE, younger brother of the late Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) MBE, also from the chiefly village of Nabukadra in the district of Kavula to be the traditional title of Turaga Gonesau. Their father, Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani (YOB-1879) was the only son of Ratu Amenatave Dewalarua (2) of Nabukadra and Seleima Veinoaki of Nayavuira village in Nakorotubu. Dr Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani was named after his maternal grandfather Roko Vilisoni Tuiketei, the younger brother of Roko Malani the Vuanirewa chief who coincidentally named his father Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani the late Buli Kavula on the morning of his birth while visiting his puakaloa vasu relatives from Ceiekena, the Kapaiwai family in Nabukadra in 1879.

God's intervention and wisdom through the arrival of Christianity in Lakeba, Lau, paved the circumstances for the intermarriage of Niumataiwalu's lineage (Cakobau, Sukuna and Uluilakeba families) and Nailatikau (1)'s lineage (Malani Family-1st Vunivalu of Kubuna and 1st born grandson lineage of Vueti -Roko Tui Bau). This resulted in a smooth political transition of the authority of the Vunivalu of Kubuna and Roko Tui Bau (bestowed as the Tui Viti) without any legal or power struggle from Nakorotubu to Bau and Lau that would have affected Fiji's socio- political economic development over the past century.

Other chiefly lineages within Nakorotubu district differs according to their respective heritage, Kalawailagi- Tui Nakorotubu (descendants of 5 Kalawailagi's children), Naboutuiloma (descendants of Yavusa Ratu & Naqeledamu), Vunivalu- Bure part of Kalawailagi's lineage, Tunisa descendants of Dewala/Dauwala, Navitilevu- descendants of Nauluna, younger brother of Ratu Meli Salabogi (1), Nasausauwai- descendants of Raikidoka from Verata- younger brother of Naboutuiloma and older brother of Dewala/Dauwala.

History

Nakorotubu recorded significant tribal war victories around the country which include the Puakaloa or Vuakaloa campaign, the conquer of the chiefly Kedekede fort of the Vuanirewa clan in Lakeba, Lau (Reid, A.C 1980) and the conquer of the whole of Vanua Levu (Cakaudrove, Bua and Macuata) in the' Torotorosila campaign' (Sayes, S.A 1984), (see also Reid, A.C 1990).

In the centre of Nabukadra is the grave of Ratu Mara Kapaiwai, a high chief of Bau Island, who was killed as a result of intra-family rivalries involving his cousin, the then ruler of the kingdom of Bau, Ratu Seru Cakobau in the early 19th century (Deryck Scarr, 1980). Before his death, he came to Nabukadra to request his cousin, Ratu Josua Mara (1) (great grandmothers Ofia (Nukunuku) and Moqei (Ceiekena) were half sisters, i.e. same mother as war tokens given after the Puakaloa campaign to Bau and Nakorotubu respectively) to ensure that his heart is not eaten when he is hanged by Ratu Cakobau.

The Nakorotubu warriors snatched Kapaiwai's body from Bau and had a proper burial in Nabukadra before Kapaiwai's heart could be eaten by Cakobau. This action prevented Kapaiwai's descendants (such as the late Fiji's statesman and first Fiji Legislative Council Speaker- Ratu Sir Vanayaliyali Sukuna) to be relegated as insignificant in status (bokola). The grave remains a prominent landmark at the center of the village (Deryck Scarr, 1980), a showcase of victory of Nakorotubu over Bau.

Ratu Sukuna's father, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (1) was Fiji's colonial government provincial administrator for the Province of Ra (Roko Tui Ra) in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Ratu Joni's wife, Adi Maopa from Tubou, Lau was the first cousin of Adi Asinate Senirewa the mother of Ratu Meli Salabogi (MBE) and Dr Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani (OBE).

Adi Maopa (Ratu Sukuna's mother) later arranged with the two boys' cousin (veitavaleni), Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba- Turaga Tui Nayau, father of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara former Prime Minister and President of Fiji for Dr Ratu Wilisoni Malani (12 years old at that time) and his older brother, Ratu Meli Salabogi, to be educated at their mother's Adi Asinate Senirewa village in Tubou, Lakeba, Lau. The coconut plantation of the Lau Provincial Council in Lakeba was used by Ratu Tevita to finance Dr Ratu Malani to Fiji's premier boarding school, Queen Victoria School and his older brother Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) to Fiji Teacher's College and graduated as a primary school teacher.

Ratu Sukuna, an Oxford graduate later requested his chiefly mother's relatives (vasu) in Lau to be installed as the Tui Lau which was granted, a British Crown requirement for leadership and governance negotiation on Fijian national affairs. Ratu Sukuna's national authority was still not fully accepted by the British crown since it only covered Maafu's title of Tui Lau so he needed the Roko Tui Bau title as the supreme traditional title in Fiji, the Tui Viti scared stone (tawake) that was awarded to Vueti at Bua, along the Tobabasaga Bay near Nabukadra after the Nakauvadra rooster revenge war, which was buried beneath the sacred temple, Vatanitawake.

As the Speaker of the Fiji Legislative Council and NLC Commissioner adviser, he consulted Vueti's eldest lineage, his cousin Ratu Meli Salabogi (3) from Ra who was a young Fijian Affairs cadet trainee at that time before his younger brother Dr Ratu Jone Antonio Rabici Dovi filled the vacant Roko Tui Bau title (Ratu Sukuna : soldier, statesman, man of two worlds', Deryck Scarr, 1980). This was a move which would ensure that his younger brother provide traditional approvals, before legislative and political negotiations are discussed between Ratu Sukuna and external parties such as the Fiji colonial government, various political stakeholders such as the Indian leaders, trade unions, the British crown and the Fiji legislative assembly (parliament).

From Ratu Sukuna's governance strategy, every elected Fijian Government since the 1970 independence have followed suit and ensured that the Roko Tui Bau title is installed and that the incumbent shares the same political ideologies as the ruling government. It is always portrayed externally and in the media that the main reason for installing the Roko Tui Bau is to install the Vunivalu of Kubuna, which is really a secondary reason, the main one being the traditional governance support and authority of the Roko Tui Bau by virtue of being the carrier of authority of the tawake (Tui Viti) after the Nakauvadra war which an elected government will need for governance and legislative validation.

Ratu Dovi's son, the late Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (2) was also installed in 1995 as Roko Tui Bau with the back up of the Rabuka SVT government with Adi Samanunu Cakobau as the Minister for Fijian Affairs. Dr Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani had to intervene and be present at Vatanitawake during the 1995 installation in response to Ratu Epenisa Cakobau's point of protest that Ratu Joni was not from the Roko Tui Bau lineage (refer to Fiji Times, Nov 13th, 1995). Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (2)'s younger brother Ratu Timoci Taniela (Tavanavanua) was also installed in 2017 with the backup of the Bainimarama Government as the Roko Tui Bau without any formal traditional installation inside Vatanitawake but held outside with a tabua presented by the Prime Minister Bainimarama in his capacity as a Yavusa Ratu clan member after the installation church service on Bau island. Ratu Timoci Taniela (Tavanavanua) cited his christian apostolic beliefs as the reason for moving the traditional ceremony away from inside Vatanitawake to the village greens in 2017. The 1995 installation protest incident by Ratu Epenisa Cakobau could have been another reason for moving away from the traditional protocol.

The late Ratu Meli Salabogi (MBE)'s son Ratu Kuliniyasi Roko Malani (2) traditionally resided for one night at Vatanitawake guarded by Nakorotubu warriors in September, 1959 before the Vunivalu of Kubuna authority was handed over to Ratu George Cakobau. That was followed by the yaqona installation ceremony by the then Roko Tui Bau, Dr Ratu Jone Antonio Rabici Dovi and the traditional ceremonial bath in Kaba.

Recently, the late Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani (OBE)'s son, Ratu Meli Salabogi Malani (4) traditionally resided for one night at Vatanitawake guarded by Nakorotubu warriors on the night of June 7th, 2018 and was supposed to hand over the Vunivalu of Kubuna authority to Ratu Epenisa Cakobau the next morning before the current Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Timoci Taniela (Tavanavanua) hands over the installation cup to Ratu Epenisa. The Government intervened through the police and the military on the morning of June 8th, 2018 and the installation was cancelled as Ratu Timoci Taniela (Tavanavanua), the Roko Tui Bau had pulled out of the installation process. The Native Lands Commission cited that protocol has been breached with the older brother, the late Ratu Joji Cakobau not agreeing for the younger brother, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, to be installed as the Vunivalu of Bau and Kubuna confederacy after initially agreeing earlier on.

Nakorotubu is also well known for its richness in culture and tradition. Some of Fiji's best traditional dances or meke such as 'raude' now turned into a song by the famous Black Rose band which originates from Nakorotubu. Moreover, a prophetic meke/chant from the 1920s has correctly predicted historical events including the 2000 coup by George Speight (Naitini) and the 2006 coup by Bainimarama and Khaiyum. The Fiji Military Forces has adopted the fan and spear dances as its own, as well as a number for leading public schools in Fiji such as Queen Victoria School (QVS) and Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS).

Infrastructure and development

Public infrastructure is not as well developed compared to other districts in Fiji which does not help with people living their daily lives, but there is an impressive degree of resilience and unity among the local people which is a hallmark of the people of Ra Province that enables them to create the best out of their beautiful natural environment.

The picturesque inland districts are joined to other provinces by the Kings Road, one of the country's main roads, which is struggling to receive sufficient fund to complete the tar-sealing work for the last remaining kilometers.

Development projects are generally carried out on a communal basis with finances coming from government, donors and the people themselves. Examples of projects are village pipe water system, power generation, village toilets and septic tanks, village meeting halls, nursing and health stations, schools and pre-school facilities etc.

Many landowning units are interested in developing their land commercially and whilst there are many options, growing organic produces for export will fetch a healthy return. Given the scarcity of capital, many people will be keen to discuss with prospective investors how they together can develop the land commercially on a joint venture and mutually beneficial basis.

References

Original heritage endorsement at Roko Tui Bau's installation in November, 1995 - Adi Samanunu Cakobau (then Minister for Fijian Affairs) ensured the presence of Dr Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani from Nakorotubu at Vatanitawake to indicate that there was endorsement from the authentic elder lineage during Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi's installation in response to protest from Ratu Epenisa Cakobau that Ratu Joni was not an authentic lineage of the Roko Tui Bau title.

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=12XjrRhZ23qTvZBwJTqLzS-vS6YGkO7KF <Fiji Times, November 13, 1995, page 24>

Original heritage endorsement of Ratu Epenisa Cakobau as Vunivalu of Kubuna in June, 2018.

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwrp7woTtcA
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlZdkIZ8_Og
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJNn9xlYV-M&t=151s

Ratu Meli Salabogi Malani's Family in Bau- Fiji Sun Letter to the Editor by Taitusi Sokiveta, Phoenix, USA'

    https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/09/03/letters-to-the-editor-3rd-september-2017/

Kubuna Confederacy speech at Turaga Gonesau- Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani's funeral by Roko Tui Bau- Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi in 2005'.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wLcwWZ0TOs

1920 Fijian Prophetic Traditional Chant 'Meke ni Gauna-Lutu na Uneune ni Vanua' during Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani's 70th birthday celebration- 1990.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w31Uwj9ao4

Nakorotubu Methodist Church Fundraising Festival in 1986.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8KB3qPOKL8

Ratu Wilisoni Tuiketei Malani Funeral in 2005- Last Journey Suva Private Hospital - Suva Wharf- Royal Fiji Navy Boat - Nabukadra, Nakorotubu, Ra'.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjsoDNHP5RM

Burial Tomb (Sau Tabu) 'Na Bulu' 2005'.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5AYM-i_ik4

Native Lands Commission (NLC) Records, 'Tukutuku ni Yavusa Kubuna', Ratu Isoa Natuituba, Bau Island Hearing, 1918'
A History of Fiji, By Ronald Albert Derrick, Published 1946, Print. and Stationery Dept. Fiji Islands, Original from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Digitized 23 Aug 2007.
Journal of The Paths of the Land: Early Political Hierarchies in Cakaudrove, Fiji', Sayes, S.A. 1984 '
Tovata I & II', A. C. Reid, 1990'
Ratu Sukuna : soldier, statesman, man of two worlds', Deryck Scarr, 1980'
Folk-Lore: A Quarterly Review of Myth, Tradition, Institution, and Custom, Page 119 by Sidgwick; By Folklore Society, (Great Britain), Parish Register Society, (Great Britain), 1977'
Fiji: The three legged stool. Selected writings of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. Edited by Deryck Scarr. Macmillan Education Ltd, London and Basingstoke, 1984'
Yalo i Viti: Shades of Viti : a Fiji Museum Catalogue - Page 173 by Fergus Clunie, Fiji Museum, Julia Brooke-White - 1986; following is a snippet: Leha died trying to save Niumataiwalu, the father of the first Tui Nayau to rule Lakeba. Ironically, Niumataiwalu, who was assassinated at Ono in a plot...