Tui Vatu installed
A TRADITIONAL title left vacant for 85 years was the subject of a solemn Fijian installation ceremony at Drauniivi Village, Ra, on October 8, 1993.
Watched by about 2000 villagers and guests, Ratu Peni Qiokata was traditionally installed the Tui Vatu on the village green situated about 15 kilometres from Tavua on the Kings Rd.
The Fiji Times ran an article on the installation on October 9, 1993, describing the event.
The Tui Vatu has jurisdiction over 12 tribes (yavusa) in the Vatukaloko tikina makawa (old administrative districts) covering an area from nearby Tavua to Rakiraki.
According to the article, Ratu Peni was closely guarded by traditional warriors and observed all strict Fijian traditional protocols when he accepted the title on behalf of the chiefly clan of Nasi.
The title was left vacant after the death of Ratu Peni’s grandfather Viasi Naitura in 1908.
Ratu Peni’s father, Koresi Taranuku, was not accorded the formal installation ceremony for the traditional title.
According to the report the people thought it was time to formally recognise and install a holder of the Tui Vatu title.
Village spokesman Malakai Nalawa said the people of Vatukaloko agreed that the installation of the
Tui Vatu was long overdue.
“We have 12 yavusa and we have been having traditional figurehead for the last 85 years,” he said.
“All the yavusa are in different parts of Fiji and there is a need for us to unite, this being the year of the indigenous peoples.”
The report described that complete silence reigned on the village green as Ratu Peni — fully dressed in his traditional garb — was escorted by warriors who came all the way from Nasoqo in Nadarivatu.
At the village green, Ratu Peni was accorded the full traditional ceremony by representatives of his 12 yavusa.
He was then escorted through the village green to the traditional sacred ground at Naulunivuaka where he was installed.
The ceremony was performed by the mataqali
Nakubuti and the mataqali
Wakalou.
The report highlighted that after the installation, Ratu Peni remained at Naulunivuaka for four days. After the four days he was then taken to bathe in a pool at Vaivero.
In blessing the installation, Ra Methodist Church superintendent the Rev Peni Nasemira said a chief would be useless without the support of the people.
In a short address after the ceremony, Ratu Peni thanked his people especially ally the Tui Navitilevu, Ratu Tevita Bolobolo, for giving him the privilege to be the traditional head of the people of Vatukaloko.
All the yavusa are in different parts of Fiji and there is a need for us to unite, this being the year of the indigenous peoples Malakai Nalawa