Taukei ni Waluvu

Taukei ni Waluvu is the Fijian traditional chiefly title of the matagali turaga(chiefly clan) Siko Nabena or tokatoka Natabutale of Nairukuruku village. Also leading chief of the district of Matailobau, Naitasiri. Matailobau according to Fergus Clunie being one of the Pre-colonial states of Eastern Viti Levu (the others being:Verata, Waimaro, Bau, Rewa, Naitasiri and Namosi).

The Legend

P. Snow 1944, quote::"While I was in Vunidawa, news came through, first communicated by messages on lalis ( hollowed- out wooden drums) beaten from village to village that Ratu Manasa the Taukei ni Waluvu (Owner of the Floods), highest chief of Waima. Matailobau and Nagonenicolo had died in Nairukuruku...It was standard belief that with the death of the holder of the hereditary title floods would follow for a fortnight. I had to go to the ceremony of reguregu and have presented on my behalf by my matanivanua a whale’s tooth for mourning. It had been fine up till now but on the day after the news the heavens opened with torrents. The river swept up at a forbidding level and with menacing currents. [http://books.google.com.fj/books?id=MoRpNVl-MncC&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=Philip+Snow,+%E2%80%9CThe+Years+Of+Hope:+&source=web&ots=Y_ZbijKZVH&sig=Fb2lF9-sJBZdlqEE4Z1ZlYASv7M&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA117,M1Philip Snow, “The Years Of Hope: Cambridge,Colonial Administration In The South Seas And Cricket”, p. 218, Radcliffe Press, 1997]

Nairukuruku History

The village of Nairukuruku was founded around 1870. The conversion to Christianity of its then Chief and Vunivalu Ratu Meli Davetanivalu and his subject clans took place on the 29th Sep 1862 at Navaulele. This pre-christian village situated just a kilometer due west from present Nairukuruku across the Wainimala river, was fortified and sits surrounded by a dry moat to protect from other marauding and warring hill tribes.According to methodist history Commodore GJ Goodenough and Rev F Langham visited Nairukuruku in the last week of January 1874 which was the foremost christianized village in the upper Wainimala river of Colo East.

Prior to their move from Navunidakua to Navaulele the chiefly Siko Natabutale clan trace their ancestry to Rokowai(c.1600 AD)their founder.He was the youngest son of the chief Rovucago of the yavutu of Navunidakua, whose ancestry goes back further in time to the Tui Nalawa in Ra.The Yavusa Siko includes the matagalis: Siko Navunisalusalu of Taulevu village,Siko Navunidakua of Naqara village and Siko Koroqele of Nakorovatu village.

The relocation to the present open valley flats of Nairukuruku,from Navaulele, was only possible in the post Christian era and after cession to Britain in 1874.

Bati and Kai Colo

"Nairukuruku"- translated means- "an entrance", probably due to its strategic location into the highlands by river and by land. The village and its subject tribes were renowned as warriors or “Bati” and feared as “Kai Tholo” or hill people by the coastal and islands people.As such the Taukei ni Waluvu and his subject hill tribes are Bati to Verata,Waimaro,Namosi and Bau. According to Adolf Brewster a 19th Century colonial administrator in the highlands in his book “The Hill Tribes of Fiji”, these hill tribes trace their ancestry generations back to the earliest of migration to Fiji.

Cakobau's Christian Wars

Tradition has it that king Cakobau honoured Ratu Meli Davetanivalu for being a staunch ally of his christianization and pacification campaigns of the hill tribes by bestowing upon him the title ‘Owner of the Floods’ (Taukei-ni-Waluvu from his prior title 'Taukei Waiburebure'). Of notable renown of the Taukei ni Waluvu's wars were the 'Valu ni Lulu'of Roraiova (Father of Ratu Meli) and the last of Cakobau’s Christian war’s at Nasorovakawalu in Mach 1873.Ratu Viliame Batiratu (Ratu Meli's nephew) the Buli Colo East played a leading role in The Wainimala Campaigns of the 1870's.Ratu Meli died during the measles epidemic of 1875 that ravished the hill tribes. Hence on the 28th October 1876, Sir Arthur Gordon issued a proclamation pardoning all hill tribes, bringing to an end all the wars in the highlands of Viti Levu

Colo East joins with Naitasiri

Nairukuruku is the leading village in the district of Matailobau. In 1945 due to colonial native restructure the old Tholo East province with Matailobau and Vunidawa government station as its center were joined to Naitasiri province. Today with a population of 300, five mataqali’s or clans reside together in the village. Namely Siko (chiefly clan), Nawaita (warriors), Nabubuco (chief’s elders), Nakorowaqa (heralds), and Navitilevu (warriors).

Methodist Church- Wasewase Matailobau/Wainimala

It is also the seat of the Methodist church divisional superintendent for Matailobau/Wainimala division with a lay persons training centre.In the 1900’s the surrounding river valley was once cultivated with banana’s as the major cash crop. Today subsistence market farming is the major village industry with many having left for the cities for employment.

Title Holder

As chief of Matailobau district (Nairukuruku,Navuniyasi,Taulevu,Delaitoga,Nabena,Matailobau) today’s Taukei ni Waluvu, Ratu Meli Koroitamana who was traditionally installed on 22nd Mar 2008, is a retired airport ground staff and sits on Fiji’s Great Council of Chiefs. He is a former Fiji rugby representative of the 1964 tour of UK and France.

Past Title Holders

(in oder of succession)

*Rokowai,(c1600).
*Rinaqarikau.
*Iranabobo.
*Rovucago.
*Roraiova (Valu ni Lulu).
*Robaledrokadroka,(Taulevu).
*Rodavetanivalu(1),(Taulevu).
*Ratu Meli Davetanivalu(2)(?-1875).
*Ratu Viliame Batiratu (Taukei Vuravura,Buli Colo East).
*Ratu Alipate Baledrokadroka (Taukei Navaulele).
*Ratu Samu Ranarogo (1855-?).
*Dr. Ratu Jemesa Bonawai,NMP,(Taukei Nakamarusi,1866-1937).
*Ratu Taito Rauluni.
*Ratu Manasa Davetanivalu.(?-1944).
*Ratu Isikeli Roragoca(Buli Matailobau).(?-1963).
*Ratu Anare Roragoca,(?-1974).
*Ratu Joseva Koroitamana.
*Ratu Esira Rovucago.
*Ratu Emosi Vakatawabai.
*Ratu Jope Rokowai,(?-1997).
*Ratu Alipate Baledrokadroka,(Taukei Nacagabuli, Senator,1933-2005).

Prominent Yavusa "Siko" Persons

*Ratu Meli Davetanivalu-(2) Taukei ni Waluvu,(?-1875).
*Ratu Viliame Batiratu- Buli Colo East.
*Dr Ratu Jemesa Bonawai, NMP,(1866-1937).
*Dr Ratu Waisea Radibi, NMP.
*Dr Ratu Jone Raiova,MP.(1904-34).
*Ratu Isikeli Roraqoca- Buli Matailobau,
*Rev Setareki Nasilivata, Methodist Minister.
*Livai Nasilivata, MC,MP-Teacher.
*Inoke Nasilivata- Teacher.
*Ratu Alipate Baledrokadroka-(1933-2005)Senator.
*Ratu Meli Koroitamana- Fiji Rugby Rep to UK 1964.
*Adi Kelera Nasilivata-(?- 2007)Teacher.
*Ratu Jope Rorinabobo- Teacher.
*Adi Lagamu Takiveikata,Senator.
*Col. Ratu Jone Baledrokadroka- Army Officer.
*Ratu Jope Baledrokadroka- Teacher.
*Ratu Jemesa Baledrokadroka-Lawyer.
*Ratu Jope Davetanivalu- Min of Environment.
*Ratu Emosi Davetanivalu-Min of Finance.
*Adi Vani Nasedra-Teacher.
*Isoa Nasedra-DO/Ast NLC.
*Eroni Tubuitamana-Teacher.
*Ratu Feretariki Naqaliwai- Teacher.
*Ratu Manasa Davetanivalu- British Army Officer, UK.
*Ratu Levani. Rosovalevu - Nurse

* Akusita. Nasilivata - Teacher

References

* Philip Snow, “The Years Of Hope: Cambridge,Colonial Administration In The South Seas And Cricket”, p. 218, Radcliffe Press, 1997.
* NLC "Tukutuku Raraba": Yavusa- Siko, Colo East, Dec 1924.
* AB Brewster, "The Hill Tribes of Fiji", 1922.
* AB Brewster,"Genealogies and histories of the Matanitu or tribal governments of Central Vitu Levu (Great Fiji)"1923
* James W. Turner, "True Food" and First Fruits: Rituals of Increase in Fiji," Ethnology, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Apr., 1984), pp. 133
* Nicole, Robert Emmanuel, "Disturbing history: aspects of resistance in early colonial Fiji, 1874 – 1914."
* Fergus Clunie,Director Fiji Museum, "Domodomo (Fiji Museum Quartertly, back cover), Pre Colonial States of Fiji" Suva, Government Press 1985.
* Andrew Thornley,"Exodus of the I Taukei Lako Yani ni Kawa i Taukei,The Story of Methodism in Fiji from 1848-78", (2002).
* Jane Roth and Steven Hooper, "Fiji Journals of Baron Anatole von Hugel", Fiji Museum, 1991.