Turaga na Rasau

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Turaga na Rasau is the paramount Chief of Lomaloma Tikina or District or small kingdom on the Island of Vanuabalavu which is part of the Lau group of Islands which are part of the Island Nation known as Fiji located in the South Pacific Ocean, this title is currently vacant, which is head of the Yavusa (tribe)Vusaratu Vuaniivi Buca, Mataqali (clan)Vusaratu Vuaniivi Buca, and Tokatoka (family unit)Valelevu, Rasau is a short form for Ratu Ni Vanua, Sau Ni Vanua or translated King of the land, Voice of the land.

please note: that I am using both English and Fijian, the Fijian words used are either names of places or kingly titles, or specific individuals, the Fijian language uses the English alphabet.

Origin on the mainland

The Title of the Turaga Na Rasau originates from the Province of Ra on the main island of Viti Levu (or Big Fiji, Levu in Fijian means Big and Viti is really the correct form for Fiji).

It was at Kubuna that the great ancestral Chief, Ratu Vueti formed one of the earliest known Fijian settlements. When hostilities ceased the people of Nakauvadra and the victorious Bauan army made a Shrine and called it “Bau”,in honor of Ratu Vueti and his achievements. The word signified that he was the all supreme and that all things dame under his authority.

He took the titles of Roko Tui Bau and Koroi Ratu Maibulu. After his death, he was deified and became the ancestral god of the people of Kubuna, worshiped in the form of a serpent.

A division arose between Bucaira and Vunibuca over the installation of a successor to Ratu Vueti. Other clans went to Namuka and wandered from place to place. Eventually a new Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Serumataidrau, was selected from the Vuaniivi, a tokatoka of the Navusaratu clan, which had settled at Namuka.

please note: that Fijians generally believe that all Fijian tribes and people all had a single place of origin which is from Nakauvadra Mountain Range in the province of Ra on the main Island of Fiji named Viti Levu

The Reign of Naulivou

Naulivou was installed as the Vunivalu (in modern Fiji this is now the highest chiefly title in the Greater Kingdom of Kubuna but not in Fijis Early history) in 1791. Ratu Raiwalui of the Vuaniivi Clan, Vusaratu, became Roko Tui Bau but the relationship between these two men was not a happy one. They soon came into conflict and the Vuaniivi clan fled to Kubuna and sought the protection of Titokobitu, the Chief of Namara. Together with some chiefs of Namara, they reached Koro and from there went to Vuna, on the island of Taveuni, and thence to Vanua Balavu. The Namara people now of Levukana village in Lomaloma, were left behind at Vuna and they fled to the mountains lest the Bauans should pursue them. The Vuaniivi warriors left some of their war canoes high and dry on the beach at Vuna when they set off for Vanua Balavu.

When Naulivou heard that they were at Vanuabalavu, he sent his brother Tanoa to pursue and punish them. They unexpectedly met at sea not far from Mago. A battle royal ensued in which the Vuaniivi lost about a hundred men, including their chief, Ratu Raiwalui, the Roko Tui Bau (Rasau), His body was taken to Lomaloma for burial. Those who escaped took refuge with the Namara people at Vuna. On returning to Bau, Tanoa stopped at Vuna and captured an enemy town, Vuloci. They however surrendered and as a peace offering presented a woman of chiefly rank, Adi Sugavanua of the Vuaniivi, Vusaratu clan, who was taken to Bau and became the wife of Naulivou. Tanoa on seeing the Vuaniivi war canoes on the beach at Vuna, set fire to them and secured for himself the name Tanoa Visawaqa, which means "The burner of boats".

please note: that Ratu is a sign of Fijian royalty and Nobility as to is Adi their equvilant in English would be Lord and Lady this title is used before the individuals name when addressing them in formal of social settings other indicators of this to is Tui or Turaga or Ro for the males of Marama or Bulou or Ro for the females But as for Kingly titles these vary greatly from Kingdom to Kingdom within Fiji

Turaga Na Rasau (lineage)

???

Ratu Aquila Vakavo''' 1800s

Ratu Jese Waqalekaleka''' mid 1800s eldest son of Ratu Aquila

Ratu Keni Naulumatua 1895 - 1970 eldest son of Ratu Jese

Ratu Nelsoni Delailomaloma succeeded his older brother Ratu keni died late 80s

Ratu Viliame Fonalahi Keni Naulumatua 1930 - 2000 oldest son of Ratu Keni

Ratu Jese Waqalekaleka II Second eldest son of Ratu Keni died in late 80s

Ratu Keni Naulumatua II currently living 2nd youngest son of Ratu Keni

Ratu Tanoa Senibua Naulumatua currently living youngest son of Ratu Keni

please note: after Ratu Tanoa passes on the Title will then Return to the eldest line which will be Ratu Viliame and his Children and so on and so forth, at times the maternal lineage can be used or through younger lineage, but this will have to be a joint decision of the elders of the kingdom and the chiefly family members including the people of the land because the position is held for life.

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