Bau (pronounced [ˈmba.u]) is a small island in Fiji, off the east coast of the main island of Viti Levu.
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With the aid of Charlie Savage, who brought firearms to Bau Island, the Bauan people quickly established themselves as an undefeatable military force. With that unmatched power, Seru Epenisa Cakobau was able to unite all of Fiji's disparate tribes under his authority in 1871.
Significant chiefly titles from Bau include the Vunivalu (considered to be Fiji's premier chiefly title), and the Roko Tui Bau, currently held by Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, the former Vice-President of Fiji.
Bau is the capital of the Kubuna Confederacy (also known as the Kubuna Tribe) and the chiefly centre of Tailevu Province. It is divided into three villages - Bau, Lasakau, and Soso.
Among Bau's landmarks are Fiji's oldest Christian church and a stone on which the skulls of cannibalism victims were crushed.
The Fijian language has many dialects, but the official standard is based on the speech of Bau.
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