Historical Background

The Historical State of Wailevu

	Founded by Ratu Maivuniwi of Verata, reputedly in the 1500s, the Fijian State of Wailevu covers a large portion of Vanua Levu, primarily the land south of the central mountain range and east of Savusavu. “Wailevu” means abundant water, and it is the name of the region, the village, and the stream that issues there. The title of the chief is Lord of Wailevu or Tui. Once the Lord of Wailevu is installed he may not be deposed. The structure of the historical state was composed of: • Upper House (Vale I Thake), the nobility • Mathavu, the priests of the land. They are second to the Tui. • Wea • Mbotini • The Red Tahitian Chestnut (Naivindama) The Mathavu install the Tui, historically choosing one Tui to be Lord of Wailevu. The Wea’s duty is to police the land. The Mathavu apportion the food. The Mbotini’s part is to be loud in their ways. They are called Kaisau because they are like the kaisau, a bird that chatters among the mangroves. The Red Chestnut obeys. They bring food, attack enemy villages and guard the border. A sixth clan, called Heralds, came later. They are part of Seandamu, the people who travel with the nobles, execute errands, and control access to the Tui. The historical realm of Wailevu includes the Ndreketi to which the Mbutha was subject. Communication between all these groups is formal. The process of communication carries a great significance, and the process is respected to this day. The Wailevu State communicates in the following manner: the Lord of Wailevu first contacts the clan of the Lower House (Vale i ra) in Wailevu who delivers the message to Upper Ndreketi in Ndreketi, who then take it to the chief in Mbutha. In Mbutha it divides into two: the chief’s clan takes it to Ndrakaniwai, where it branches off in two directions, to Nasali and to Levuka where it ends. Finally, the clan of Nukutumbu in Mbutha takes it to Sawana.							The following charts the flow of communication: Lord of Wailevu Lower House in Wailevu Upper Ndreketi Chief of Mbutha Ndrakaniwai Nukutumbu Nasali Levuka_______ Savana The classical Fijian Social hierarchy differs from the line of communication and is organized as follows: Lord of Wailevu. (Tui) Tribes (Vanua) Clans: Yavusa Yavusa Yavusa Sub-clans: Mataqali Mataqali Mataqali Sub-Lineage: Tokatoka Tokatoka Tokatoka Families Each tribe, each clan, each sub-clan, and each sub-lineage has its own chief. Each grouping of every level of the hierarchy has an over all chief to which the chiefs within his hierarchy report. Each tribe has a chief called Tui. The state of Wailevu has four tribes. The Lord Tui commands the other Tui. To become Lord of the State, the Chief must hold the top position in each hierarchy. Consequently in addition to being Lord Tui of the State of Wailevu, he is Chief of the tribes, the clans, the sub-clans, the sub-lineage and his family. The first Lord of Wailevu was Ratu Maivuniwi; the current Lord is Ratu Kini, who has been educated in both Western culture and Fijian traditions, and who is a Member of Parliament. Formerly Wailevu functioned as a “Forum” of food and commodities, because food was brought there and stored. Wailevu was one continuous land reaching as far as Undu Point. People and commodities traveled along the coast by the sea in what was known as a trafficking path. It followed the coast, never going by sea. The path existed to bring tribute to the Tui and for the exchange of gifts at feasts. It was the Fijian way of barter and trade. The village of Wailevu was the market place.
	Lali (Fijian drum)
							Each tribe, each clan, each sub-clan, and each sub-lineage has its own chief. Each grouping of every level of the hierarchy has an over all chief to which the chiefs within his hierarchy report. Each tribe has a chief called Tui. The state of Wailevu has four tribes. The Lord Tui commands the other Tui. To become Lord of the State, the Chief must hold the top position in each hierarchy. Consequently in addition to being Lord Tui of the State of Wailevu, he is Chief of the tribes, the clans, the sub-clans, the sub-lineage and his family. The first Lord of Wailevu was Ratu Maivuniwi; the current Lord is Ratu Kini, who has been educated in both Western culture and Fijian traditions, and who is a Member of Parliament. Formerly Wailevu functioned as a "Forum" of food and commodities, because food was brought there and stored. Wailevu was one continuous land reaching as far as Undu Point. People and commodities traveled along the coast by the sea in what was known as a trafficking path. It followed the coast, never going by sea. The path existed to bring tribute to the Tui and for the exchange of gifts at feasts. It was the Fijian way of barter and trade. The village of Wailevu was the market place.
	Fijian warrior
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