Namalata
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Namalata(Fijian pronunciation:[namalata]) is avillageand island inFiji.It is located in the southern portion of theVanua Balavuisland group, part of Fiji'sLau Islands.The village is a constituent of the largerLomalomavillage.
The people of Namalata descend from the original inhabitants ofMago Island,who were displaced in the nineteenth century.
Chiefly titles[edit]
The Chief of Namalata Village is theTui Mago.
From Mago to Namalata[edit]
In the mid-19th century, Fiji's two dominantchiefsat the time, theVunivalu of Bau(Seru Epenisa Cakobau) and theTui Cakauwere threatened by theTonganwarlord,Enele Ma'afu.They sought the help of the Namalata people while Ma'afu was inLomaloma,onVanua Balavu,as they could provide information on his movements.
The island of Mago was then given to Europeans in order to slow Ma'afu's advancement into Fiji, as the threat of retaliation from their respective homelands deterred him from attackingEuropeans.When Fiji was ceded to theUnited Kingdomin 1874, those occupying the island were registered as the rightful owners, thus dispossessing the Namalata people. Mago Island is now owned by actor and film directorMel Gibson.
References[edit]
- Derrick, Ronald Albert;The Fiji Islands, a Geographical Handbook,published 1957 Govt. Press, Original from theUniversity of Michigan,Digitized July 1, 2006. Contains basic details on Namalata.