Tovata

Tovatais one of threeconfederaciescomprising theFijianHouse of Chiefs,to which all of Fiji'schiefsbelong.

Details of Tovata

It is located in the north east of the country, covering the provinces ofBua,MacuataandCakaudroveon the northern islandVanua Levu,as well as theLau Islands.

Paramount Title of Tovata

The Tovata Confederacy, (like the Kubuna and Burebasaga confederacies) is a recent invention. It was conceived in 14 February 1867 byMa’afuas cited in the Na Mata as follows:

"A tauyavutaka na turaga ni Toga o Ma'afu ena nona via vakacokovatataka na vanua era vakarorogo vua, ena veirogorogoci kei ira na turaga ni vanua o Bua, Macuata, Cakaudrove kei Lau. "

The key word here is "veirogorogoci" which denotes "listening to each other". In other words, this confederacy's membership are equal in rank which is why during traditional oratures and discourses, it is referred to as "Matanitu Veiwekani. Seen another way, this is Fiji's equivalent of a United Nations of sorts, where each chief is of equal ranking with other chiefs in the Tovata jurisdiction.

Kubuna and Burebasaga confederacies, on the other hand have layers upon layers of chief, vassal warlord, chieftain and ranks within ranks, underscoring its long alliances and relationships in-built into it. Tovata is not like that. It is more even and democratic in structure. It was conceived by Ma’afu and headed by the British consul in Levuka as its prime minister.

There is no paramount chief in the Tovata Confederacy.

Notable Fijians of Tovata

Although the smallest of the three confederacies, Tovata has been the most politically influential.Ratu SirLala Sukuna,considered the father of modern Fiji, was from Tovata, as wereRatu SirKamisese Mara,Fiji's longtime firstprime ministerand second president; Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, the first president of Fiji. In addition,Sitiveni Rabuka,incumbent prime minister, former Attorney General, Qoriniasi Bale andLaisenia Qarase.Other notable leaders are Tui Cakau RatuNaiqama Lalabalavuand RatuEpeli Ganilau,both of whom have been politically active.

Business persons also from Tovata includeRoko Mataiof theYatu LauandMere Samisoni,founder of the bakery chainHot Bread Kitchenand a formerMember of Parliament.

References

• Broken Waves:A History of the Fiji Islands in the Twentieth Century - Page 233, by Brij V. Lal - 1992,Reference to Tovata as a Confederacy
• Australia's Arc of Instability:The Political and Cultural Dynamics of Regional Security - Page 251 - 258, by Dennis Rumley, Vivian Louis Forbes, Christopher Griffin - 2006,reference Tovata as a confederacy and how it was formed

Further reading

• Tovata I & IIBy AC Reid, Printed in Fiji by Oceania printers Fiji (1990)

External links

• Sources:Maori News (Fiji Supplement);Tui Cakau
• Nakorotubu District- origin of the 1st Vunivalu of Kubuna.