Turaga Na Ravunisa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nobility of Fiji

Titles
Adi - Bulou
Ro - Roko - Ratu

Institutions
Great Council of Chiefs
Chairman, Great Council of Chiefs
House of Chiefs

Confederacies:
Burebasaga - Kubuna - Tovata

Rotuman Traditional Leadership
Gagaja - Sau - Fakpure - Mua

The Turaga Na Ravunisa is a Fijian Chiefly title of the Lau Islands[1] , in particular the Village of Lomaloma[2] on the Island of Vanuabalavu.

[edit] The Title

The title holder must be the most senior member or Turaga i Taukei of the Yavusa Gala[3] and generally is held by a man, initially his title will be Tui Lomaloma and he relinquishes that title upon the traditional installation where he becomes the Ravunisa. The candidate must have white hair or it is believed he will die if he is installed before his hair becomes white[4] then secondly approval for the installation must come from the Turaga na Rasau[5] .

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Chart, 1881, Native Registrar Tikina of Lomaloma, NLFC
  2. ^ Ai Vola Ni Kawa, Fijian Affairs
  3. ^ Chart, 1881, Native Registrar Tikina of Lomaloma, NLFC
  4. ^ Lau Island, p226, by A. Hocart
  5. ^ Lau Island, p226, by A. Hocart

[edit] References

  • Lau Islands, Fiji By A.M Hocart, Published by the Bishop Museum, Hawaii (1929) reference to Ratu Keni Naulumatua as Rasau of Lomaloma and details on his title.
  • The Lau Islands (Fiji) and Their Fairy Tales and Folklore - Page 54, by T[homas] R[eginald] St. Johnston, Published 1918 by The Times book co., ltd.Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized Dec 15, 2006, reference to the Rasau and the Ravunisa
  • Mara, Ratu Sir Kamisese: "The Pacific Way: A Memoir", University of Hawaii Press, 1997
  • Tovata I & II By AC Reid, Printed in Fiji by Oceania printers Fiji (1990) reference to the Rasau and Ravunisa, reference to Lomaloma.