QUITE a few occasions are most important and significant in an iTaukei society.
One of the most significant is the traditional installation of a vanua leader or chief, as they are commonly known. Chiefs are usually installed when his/her successor may have died and a new one has been appointed by the vanua to lead the people.
The traditional chiefly installation is most commonly known as the most solemn occasion in the history of the iTaukei people, apart from a chief’s funeral.
It is an occasion which may have taken years to prepare as people want the best for their traditional leader which they look up to and they believe bring mana to their vanua.
Chiefs play a very significant role in their vanua as they are not only leaders but are those who decide on everything that may need approval in their village, district or provincial setting.
There have been quite a number of traditional chiefly installations that have had occurred around the country and have been termed by many people as the most singnificant events of their lives as it was hard to come across such full traditional events.
It has been amazing to witness a few chiefly traditional installations recently in the Western Division and comparing it with the many others that we may have read through the media, those that happened in the 1960s and even in the 1980s.
Equally amazing is to witness changes in chiefly installation protocols as time goes on.
The most recent happened last week on the island on Nacula on Yasawa where traditional leaders on the island gathered to witness yet another milestone achievement of the people of the Drola clan – the traditional installation of the Tui Drola Ratu Manasa Naikasowalu.
The kingmaker (sauturaga) in their traditional lineage and chiefly capacity of the vanua o Drola officially presented in ordination the bilo ni veivagunuvi to traditionally install the new Tui Drola which signifies the beginning of his reign.
The event brought together villagers of Nacula, Naisisili, Navotua and Matacawalevu who have been preparing for this occasion for more than a year.
Villagers of Malakati, however, were not present because they would carry out the final traditional installation rites being the elders of the Drola clan after four nights of observing the installation protocol.
Ratu Manasa, 56, spent most of his young days on Bau Island where he was brought up mainly at Muaidule before being traditionally approached by his late chief to return to Nacula.
Nacula villager Saimone Naivalu said the event was a historic and an emotional and important one for the people of Drola as the position has been vacant since last year after the passing of the late Tui Drola, Ratu Epeli Vuetibau Bogileka.
The Tui Drola is the traditional leader of the people of Nacula, Naisisili, Malakati, Navotua and Matacawalevu.
Three months ago, traditional leaders from the vanua o Ba gathered at Narewa Village in Nadi to witness the inauguration of the Tui Nadi, Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci Dawai.
The event, a first of its kind in the province of Ba, was a special one as there was no traditional installation as per the practice in any iTaukei village setting, but a full church ceremony at Narewa’s Vatulevu Church.
Despite a dispute from a few Narewa villagers who did not concur with the decision to have a full church ceremonial ceremony, the occasion was successfully completed with the heavy presence of personnel from the Fiji Police Force at the village.
The installation ceremony was carried out by church leaders from the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Methodist Church in Fiji.
The installation of the late Tui Nayau, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was perhaps one of the significant traditional ceremonies for the people of Lau.
On July 8, 1969, The Fiji Times reporter and photographer Stan Ritova journeyed to the island group to witness and document the traditional installation of the chiefly title to the former prime minister and president of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Hundreds turned out to witness the significant occassion.
Below is an excerpt of the report filed by the late Ritova who travelled on horseback for three miles to the island’s radio telephone to give his report to The Fiji Times head office.
“In the shadow of Delaiwawa Mountain the Chief Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, was yesterday installed Tui Nayau.
“Hundreds of people watched the brief but colourful ceremony take place on the same spot where his father and other ancestors were installed. Ratu Sir Kamisese was dressed in traditional masi cloth with his wife, Adi Lady Lala Mara sitting beside him.
“Earlier, escorted by guards, he walked up half a mile winding path from the village to the installation site. By doing this, he followed his father the late Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba in departing from tradition. Like his father he declined to be carried up the hill. But after the ceremony he was carried back down on a colourfully decorated litter.
“The approach to the installation site was covered with masi and mats and lined by women from the three villages of Nayau.
“Iliesa Raloulou whose ancestors have installed previous Tui Nayaus, wrapped Sir Kamisese’s head at the start of the ceremony. The same piece of masi used in previous ceremonies was tied round the chief minister’s left arm.
Yaqona
“Ratu Sir Kamisese was presented with a bilo of yaqona (grog) which he drank, completing the ceremony. The chief minister by tradition is required to wear the masi armlet for four nights but because of limited time he asked the Nayau chiefs for permission to wear it for only one night. The chief’s approved this request and the chief minister will shed the armlet at another ceremony today when he will bathe and be presented with food.”
In some cases, there have been disputes at the installation of a chief because people do not agree with certain aspects of the installation.
This is where the iTaukei Lands Commission will come in to ensure that the dispute is settled accordingly ensuring that there is no tension as well within the vanua setting.
Though it may take sometimes to settle disputes, the TLC will always ensure the best decision is given because the chief is the only one who safeguards the vanua.
