Talk:Joni Madraiwiwi I

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this page should be moved to Joni Madraiwiwi I or something, as his name was not Jone but Joni.

I've actually seen both spellings in print. However, feel free to move the page if you wish - it's not something I feel passionate about. David Cannon 00:16, 28 Feb 2005 (UTC)

born in suva - reference?

being born in suva is highly unlikely - in 1859 Suva was a minor village, and a noble woman would not have any business giving birth in such a place. --Xorkl000 04:24, 24 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Good to see you back! I believe I based my information on Kathleen Hancock's Men of Mana - which contains biographies of three Pacific leaders. The section on Ratu Mara includes references to Ratu Sukuna and his family background. I have no problem with removing the Suva reference, however, as I found quite a number of things in that book that I know to be inaccurate. So perhaps we should delete that reference unless we can substantiate it. David Cannon 10:42, 24 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, I realize that the two preceding comments were quite a while back, I made some additions to this article and would be interested in your feedback. I agree that Ratu Madraiwiwi was probably not born in Suva. However, his father Ratu Kamisese Kapaiwai Mara was hung around the time he was born, his family while still being quite noble was in a state of disgrace. People still refer to his descendants today on Bau as "kawa ni kuna" or "descendents of someone who was hung".

After his defeat and capture at the battle of Kaba, he was taken to Bau and he made a request that he be clubbed as a noble warrior. When Adi Litia Samanunu, Radi Levuka [title of the "Watina bau" (principal wife) of the Vunivalu], returned to Mara with the reply, she told him she had two "tukutuku" or things she needed to inform him: first, Adi Loaloakubou (his first cousin and half sister to the Vunivalu) had borne him a son; second, his request had been denied. He replied, "sa vinaka" ie so be it! He also asked that the child be given the name Madraiwiwi (lit. Sour Bread) as life had soured in his mouth. That is the origin of the subject's name.

Sorry I rambled a bit, my point was that its not completely impossible that he was born in Suva, it was small but allied to Bau and a disgraced soon-to-be-widow may have been sheltering there with Ratu Ravulo, the Tui Suva (Suva chief)at the time; her and the Vunivalu's nephew (son of another of their half-sisters)^[1]. More likely though, she was in Lasakau, the neighbouring village still on Bau island, before bearing child to Mara she had been the wife of Ratu Gavidi, the Komai Nadrukuta (the Lasakau chief who was killed in a skirmish with Verata on the 26th of April 1850^[2]) and her descendants are still the ruling family there.Tukutukudina (talk) 15:55, 23 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]

References

^ R.A. Derrick, A History of Fiji, Vol.1, Government Press, Suva, 1946, page83
^ R.A. Derrick 1946, page103

[1] R.A. Derrick, A History of Fiji, Vol.1, Government Press, Suva, 1946, page83

[2] R.A. Derrick 1946, page103

[1]

[2]