Rewa Province fete end of mourning for chief

Province fete end of mourning for chief
ROBERT MATAU
Saturday, July 05, 2008 - www.fijitimes.com



Peniame Silatolu (right) leads Bure o Rewa clan members Ro Alifereti Doviverata,
THE chiefly village of Lomanikoro, Rewa, was a sea of colours as family members and the vanua celebrated the end of mourning for the late Vunivalu of Rewa, Ro Jone Mataitini.

Intermittent rain cooled the day as close relatives travelled from various parts of Fiji for the function.

And in a presentation of magiti ni bogi drau (100 nights feast), Ro Aca Mataitini made a pledge on behalf of the Vunivalu clan to their paramount chief and Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa, that no matter what happens they would always stick with her.

"Na vuvale mai Dravo ena maroroya saka tiko na i tikotiko vakaturaga e Valelevu (The Vunivalu's household of Dravo will protect the chiefly household of the Roko Tui Dreketi).

Ro Jone was known to have stuck by the late Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Lady Lala Mara, throughout her leadership.

Ro Teimumu thanked the vanua for the presentation and kind words.

The lifting of the mourning period featured 10 families with maternal ties to the Vunivalu of Rewa's mataqali Nukunitabua.

Ratu Tubu Uluiviti of Nairai said from one clan emerged many women who raised children with families in various parts of Fiji.

"Their presentation today is testimony of the links the women of Nukunitabua have forged," Ratu Tubu said.

Ro Alipate Mataitini said the function was attended only by those who had close blood ties to their household and those with special links.

The Wye and Pickering families also attended the function as they have close ties with the Vunivalu's family.

A feature of the function was the articulate presentations made by the spokesmen of families linked to the Vunivalu.