Vuda Villagers Mark Historic Occasion
More than 200 people witnessed a historic event called the ‘ikwali’ for Meli Tora at Natalau Village in Sabeto, Nadi yesterday.
Ikwali is a traditional occasion where a person is taken back to where he or she rightfully belong.
Mr Tora, 65, was raised and brought up at Natalau Village by his mother’s family.
Yesterday, the VanuaoVuda approached the VanuaoBetoraurau specifically the YavusaWarutaof Natalau in Sabeto to take back their son.
The vakavinavina ni veisusu was performed to show the gratitude of the vanua for the immense task of nurturing and raising a son of Vuda.
Following that, the imei was conducted to welcome Mr Tora home.
The recently installed, Taukei Sawaieke, Iliesa Cebaivalu Namuaira said the historic moment was a special occasion for the villagers.
“Today (yesterday) is a very special day for Vuda, we are bringing our son back,” he said.
“Mr Tora was raised in his mother’s village in Natalau and has since lived his life there along with his wife and four children under the wings of his late uncle, former politician, Ratu
Apisai Tora who recently passed on in October.
“This is an important task for the Vanua o Vuda because Mr Tora rightfully belongs to the chiefly household of the Tui Vuda.
“We are very excited to receive him and we are equally very cautious to carry out all traditional etiquette considering the important role that he also shoulders in Natalau.”
Mr Tora is currently the school administrator at Ba Provincial Secondary School. He is a retired school principal.
The ikwali was last performed in the
1980s to the Tui Taveuni for the late Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda who later became the Tui Vuda and President of Fiji.
The vanua o Vuda will be conducting their ‘boka ni vanua’ and ‘vamatamalum’ an act of remorse on behalf of Mr Tora’s late father, Ratu Ilaijia Vuivuda Tavaiqia who was also the former Tui Vuda.
Ratu Tavaiqia was among the 12 siblings of the current Tui Vuda, Ratu Eparama Kitione Tavaiqia.