Turaga na Gonesau

The Turaga na Gonesau is a chiefly title of the Fiji Islands and is viewed as a Paramount Chief of Fiji residing in the Nakorotubu District[1] in the Ra Province on the Main Island of Viti Levu

In Translation

The name Gonesau means "blessed child".

In History

There are a few versions of the history and origins of the traditional title of the Turaga na Gonesau.

Version 1.

Gonesau originated from Uluinakorotubu where five brothers resided who are the sons of Kalawailagi, the Tui Nakorotubu who came from Nakauvadra. The youngest son of Kalawailagi, Vakasenuku was given the Sau by his father the Tui Nakorotubu, Kalawailagi. Therefore the descendants of the youngest son of the Tui Nakorotubu, Vakasenuku are the kingmakers of the title of Turaga na Gonesau. The descendants of the youngest son (Vakasenuku) still lives on today in Nakorotubu.

Version 2.

The first "Gonesau" Manamanaivalu or Manumanuivalu was the son of Rokomautu from Verata (the first son of the High Chief and master sailor Lutunasobasoba, who is traditionally believed to have led the first migration to Fiji).[2] Rokomautu had a son called Mamanaivalu or Manumanuivalu from Vukuta, the daughter of the chief of Tova peak in Dawasamu, Tailevu. He gave his blessing or "Sau" or Mana to his youngest son, Manamanaivalu or Manumanuivalu to be powerful in war, in intellect, and in anything that he would undertake. Manamanaivalu or Manumanuivalu the youngest son of Rokomautu or "Gonesau" married a daughter of Vakasenuku, the youngest son of the Kalawailagi, the Tui Nakorotubu. The descendants are residing in Burelevu.

Version 3.

The Gonesau title was given to a descendant of Naboutuiloma of the Yavusa Ratu by the first Roko Tui Bau and close cousin, Vueti Verata (a great great grandson of Rokomautu and grandson of Raivalita) for saving Bau during its early emergence as a Matanitu to the descendants of Naboutuiloma. The Gonesau settled in Nakorotubu from Verata. This version 3 was part of the Native Lands Commission hearing in Nagigi, Savusavu, Cakaudrove in 1918. The descendants of Naboutuiloma still lives on in Kavula settlement, in the district of Kavula, Ra today.[3] The name Kavula and its district means white or pure and was meant to be a beacon of light (purity) for the Fijian race so the holders of that light were the Gonesau.[4]

Version 4.

Nadurucoko I, the son of Dauwala acquired the "Sau". Dauwala was originally from Verata near Navuniivi in the Navitilevu Bay, Ra. Dauwala fled after differences with his older brothers and resided along the Dewala Creek in the interior of Nakorotubu. One of Nadurucoko's sons, Nailatikau (he is named after what happened to his father, the baby that was closed out of their bure for troubling the mother from his continuous crying after birth), married Senibuli (from the lineage of Manamanaivalu or Manumanuivalu with the daughter of Vakasenuku) and settled in Navakawaluwalu, Nabukadra, Ra. Nabuinivuaka Nailatikau I killed one of his brothers and fled to Bau. He later became the first Vunivalu of Bau and Kubuna. Nabuinivuaka Nailatikau I had two sons, Raivalita (mother-Adi Kulanawa of Verata) returned and settled in Nakorotubu and took over as the Gonesau. The younger brother, Nadurucoko II (mother-Roko Vedro of Nakelo) took over as the next Vunivalu of Bau from his father, Nabuinivuaka Nailatikau I. This version 4 was consistent with the Native Lands Commission hearing of the Yavusa Kubuna in Bau in 1918. As a result of the consistency of the hearing of the Yavusa Kubuna at the Bau hearing, the Native Lands Commission hearing in Nanukuloa, Ra in 1918 approved Ratu Meli Salabogi II, the father of Ratu Mara Kapaiwai II and his Tokatoka Bau, Mataqali Navokavoka (ni wai o Dewala), Yavusa Burelevu with the title of "Na Sau" or Gonesau and head of the Vanua of Navakawaluwalu of the District of Kavula, Ra.

References

  1. ↑ The Method of Hope, By Hirokazu Miyazaki, P101, 102
  2. ↑ The Kalou-Vu (Ancestor-Gods) of the Fijians, Basil H. Thomson, Vol. 24, 1895 (1895), pp.340-343
  3. ↑ Tukutuku Raraba National Archives Fiji Islands
  4. ↑ Fiji Times, "The wonder and mystery of how Fijian history is repeated", by Robert Matau, Monday, March 26, 2007.

Translations and Transliterations

External links