Lovoni

Lovoni

The Tikina of Lovoni is made up of the villages of Lovoni, Nasaumatua, Vuni-ivi-savu, Visoto, Nukutocia and Nacobo. The latter three villages are located on the coast of Ovalau.

History

Various myths and legends attribute the Lovoni people to different origins. It is believed that they were the first settlers of the island having migrated from mainland Vitilevu to settle Ovalau. Popular beliefs link them to the High Chiefdom of Verata and inevitably to the Nakauvadra epic. The founding ancestor of the Lovoni is popularly referred to as Rakavono, nephew to the mythical founder of the Bureta people, Bui Savulu, daughter of Lutunasobasoba.

At the time of European contact, written sources refer to this group of people as the predominant rulers of Ovalau. They were responsible for torching the settlement of Levuka, at least twice, causing a dispersal of its early European settlers to Savusavu. They were an independent Fijian Kingdom with kinship ties to the Roko Tui Bau, the people of Verata, Wainibuka and Naitasiri. Their allies within the Lomaiviti group lay with the Tora ni Bau of Batiki. They also had strong ties with the people of Bua and Cakaudrove. To the east, they had extensive ties and allies with the Yasayasa Moala and Ono-i-Lau. Their ties to the west of Fiji were direct kinship ties with the noblehouse of the Tui Nadi.

The Lovoni people, being an independent kingdom with several strategic tributaries, ensured their role as mercenaries of war in the central Fijian province of Lomaiviti, which at the time of European contact, was undergoing a major power struggle between the Noble Houses of Verata and their ally and kin the House of the Roko Tui Bau and the rising power of the Vunivalu of Bau. This period also saw the growing power of the Tongans influx to the east of Fiji, the rise of Rewa and its tributaries and the presence of the Europeans and their efficient firearms. The Lovoni people found themselves in the center of this major conflict and power struggle and often played the determining role of supporting whichever side suited them best, based on kinship ties. Their unfailing support of the ailing and declining house of the Roko Tui Bau and his descendants would mark the fate of this fiercely independent and proud people.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ovalau — Géographie Pays  Fidji Archipel Lomaiviti Localisation Océan Pacifique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ovalau (Fiji) — For the island in Tonga, see Ovalau (Vava u) . Ovalau (pronounced [oβaˈlau]) is the sixth largest island in Fiji s Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, (60 km north east from the national capital Suva and… …   Wikipedia

  • Kava — This article is about the kava plant. For the class of pharmacological derivatives, see Kavalactone. For other uses, see Kava (disambiguation). Kava Young Piper methysticum Sci …   Wikipedia

  • Ovalau — (pronounced|oβalau) is the sixth largest island in Fiji s Lomaiviti archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, (60 km north east from the national capital Suva and 20km off the east coast of Viti Levu), the island is about 13… …   Wikipedia

  • Nationalparks in Fidschi — Auf den im Pazifik gelegenen Fidschi Inseln (auch: Fiji) wurden an besonders schönen und erhaltenswerten Orten der Insel Nationalparks eingerichtet. Auflistung Zur Zeit befinden sich dort insgesamt sechs Stück: Koroyanitu Nationalpark, Nadi Area …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nationalparks in Fiji — Auf den im Pazifik gelegenen Fidschi Inseln (auch: Fiji) wurden an besonders schönen und erhaltenswerten Orten der Insel Nationalparks eingerichtet. Auflistung Zur Zeit befinden sich dort insgesamt sechs Stück: Koroyanitu Nationalpark, Nadi Area …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ovalau — Dorf auf Ovalau Gewässer Pazifischer Ozean Inselgruppe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Usos medicinales de las raíces — Diversidad de preparaciones de raíces en venta en un mercado cercano a la puerta monumental de Namdaemun, centro de Seúl. Los usos medicinales de las raíces vegetales son tan notorios que se han usado por siglos en la medicina humana y… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ono-i-Lau — Vorlage:Infobox Insel/Wartung/Höhe fehlt Ono i Lau Satellitenbild von Ono i Lau Gewässer Pazifischer Ozean Archipel …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”