Turaga na Tui Navadra

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The Turaga na Tui Navadra is the traditional head of the yavusa (clan) of Navadra. The yavusa Navadra is one of the principal chiefly yavusa of Cakaudrove; a member of the chiefly (Valelevu) Household of the Ai Sokula in Somosomo, the chiefly seat of Cakaudrove province and of the Tovata Confederacy.

Originally, the yavusa Navadra was known as Sinu. According to the Tukutuku Raraba ni Yavusa Navadra (TRY Navadra) from the Native Lands Commission, the people of Sinu headed by their leader, the Tui Sinu, originally occupied the lands around the Salt Lake, at the lower end of the Natewa peninsula. As, is common throughout Vanua Levu, many tribal oral traditions acknowledge Verata as the source of migration for its early inhabitants. The Tui Sinu is said to have come from Seatura in Bua, and therefore of Veratan extract. Initially he bore the title Mai Nadala, migrating from Seatura to the shores of Salt Lake, which was locally known as Na Drano Mai Sinu, and took as his wife Adi Cabemaiwasa of the Tui Nasavusavu chiefly household. Through this strategic marriage, he laid claim to all lands surrounding the lake right down to the present site of Nasinu village and northeast to the boundaries of the Tui Loa in Leia village. They were however, based at Sinu and therefore the first holders of the title of Tui Sinu and Radini Sinu (form of address for his wife). Tui Sinu and his wife had four sons. They were, in descending order, Qicatabua, Rakuita, Draveisau and Maru. Oral traditions account for the households established by these four sons. Qicatabua continued the Sinu line. Rakuita became the ancestor of the leading Vunisawana household of Nasinu, Draveisau founded the Viqa household also of Nasinu, and the youngest Maru, founded the Viani line. These four sons of Tui Sinu gave rise to the name Navadra (meaning van a dra, or four descendants). Two other clans in the yavusa Navadra, Rukuna and Volivoli, were a result of later arrivals.

The Navadra hierarchy

The yavusa of Navadra consists of six mataqali. They are (in descending order) :

1. Rukuna - mataqali Turaga (Chief) 2. Sinu - mataqali Sau-Turaga (King-makers) 3. Viqa - mataqali Bete/Matanivanua (Priests/Heralds) 4. Vunisawana - mataqali Bati-leka (warriors of the chief) 5. Viani - mataqali Bati-balavu (guardians of the frontiers) 6. Volivoli - mataqali Gonedau (fisherman)

The Rukuna household is further sub-divided into two extended families (i tokatoka): the tokatoka Valelevu and the tokatoka Rukuna. The origins of the tokatoka Rukuna is in fact uncertain, but it is often understood that they are the chief’s attendants, hence the name Rukuna, its probable derivation according to oral accounts being “ruku ni Turaga” (literally “under the chief”). That of Valelevu however, is quite clear. The Valelevu members are Ai Sokula in origin, and the elders of Sinu offered it’s founder, a chief named Ratu Sanini, the status of Tui Navadra. As a gesture of support for the new Tui Navadra, a Sinu marama (lady of rank), Adi Vunitiko, was offered as bride to the young chief. Hence the households of Sinu and Navadra have blood ties. This was further strengthened by the marriage of yet another Sinu marama, the late Adi Tavaita Suvirara to the then Tui Navadra, Ratu Apenisa Mara Tuitoga. The chiefly couple had only one issue, Ratu Jope Biaukula Tuitoga, the present Tui Navadra.

Sinu plays the role of Sau-Turaga. Traditionally, some of the basic roles of a Sau-Turaga in the Fijian society include the following: 1. Appoints a new chief as soon as the position is vacant following the death or abdication of the previous holder. The selection is normally done in consultation with other senior male members of his mataqali. 2. Acts as regent at anytime the leadership position in the yavusa is vacant, such as in the absence of the chief, who is attending to other business elsewhere. 3. Counsels and assists the chief in decision making and in matters concerning the yavusa or the vanua. 4. Ensures that traditional protocol is observed within the yavusa at all times.

According to oral traditions, Sinu is the main link between the yavusa Navadra and the Ai Sokula, and other major chiefly households of Cakaudrove, namely the Mai Kavula of Somosomo, the Vunivalu of Natewa and the Tui Naweni. Through intermarriages, Sinu also has blood ties with the other yavusa of Navatu tikina. The tikina of Navatu has five yavusa – Navadra, Navatu, Loa, Korolevu and Nukuloa.

The Kai Vunisawana are the stewards of Nasinu. When the Navadra people are assembled, they serve as Bati Leka, while the Viqa people play the dual role of matanivanua and bete. The Kai Volivoli, also a later migration to Navadra, perform the role of gonedau. The Volivoli people originate from Makogai Island in the Lomaiviti Group. The Viani line descendents of Maru function as Bati Balavu.

The yavusa Nukuloa also exists in Nasinu. A later migration in Sinu lands, Nukuloa is a tributary yavusa within the yavusa Navadra and originate from Nukuloa in Ra province. Their role(s) within the yavusa Navadra is at present unclear.

Currently the yavusa Navadra owns a total of about 3000 acres of native land.

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