Ratu ''Ratu'' () is an Austronesian title used by male Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, ''adi'' (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title ''ratu'' is also the traditional honorific title to r ...

'' Manunivavalagi Korovulavula OF (22 June 1934 – 6 November 2023) was a Fijian political leader and civil servant. A

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

, Korovulavula was appointed

Minister for Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government a ...

in the interim

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

Commodore Commodore may refer to: Ranks * Commodore (rank), a naval rank ** Commodore (Royal Navy), in the United Kingdom ** Commodore (India), in India ** Commodore (United States) ** Commodore (Canada) ** Commodore (Finland) ** Commodore (Germany) or ' ...

Frank Bainimarama Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama (; born 27 April 1954) is a Fijian former politician and naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst party, which he founded in 2014, he began his c ...

on 8 January 2007, following the

military coup A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...

on 5 December 2006. He had also previously served in Ratu Sir

Kamisese Mara ''Ratu'' Sir Kamisese Mara, (6 May 1920 – 18 April 2004) was a Fijian politician who served as Chief Minister of Fiji, Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief in ...

's Interim Cabinet after the 1987 coup led by

Sitiveni Rabuka Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka (; born 13 September 1948) is a Fijian politician, sportsman, and former soldier who has been serving as Prime Minister of Fiji since 24 December 2022. He was the instigator of two military coups in 1987. He was de ...

. He was an unsuccessful candidate twice, for the

Fijian Association Party The Fijian Association Party (FAP) is a former political party in Fiji. It played a significant role in Fijian politics throughout the 1990s but lost all of its seats in the House of Representatives in the parliamentary election of 2001. The F ...

and National Alliance Party, in the

elections An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

and

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

, respectively. He served as

treasurer A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization. Government The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...

of both parties. A career civil servant, Korovulavula started as a soldier and fought in the

Malayan Campaign The Malayan campaign, referred to by Japanese sources as the , was a military campaign fought by Allies of World War II, Allied and Axis powers, Axis forces in British Malaya, Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 15 February 1942 during the World War ...

against the Chinese Communists in the 1950s. He held a number of government positions, among them that of CEO of

Land Transport Authority The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is a Statutory boards of the Singapore Government, statutory board under the Ministry of Transport (Singapore), Ministry of Transport of the Government of Singapore. History Incorporation The Land Transport Au ...

the former Department of Road Transport. He had first worked as a civil servant in LTA (Land Transport Authority of Fiji) then worked in Parliament House in the early 2000. Korovulavula held professional qualifications from Australia and the UK and was a member of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics in the United Kingdom. Korovulavula also held positions as a sports administrator, being the chairman of the

Fiji Sports Council The Fiji Sports Council is an organisation that is the custodian of all Fiji Government owned sporting venues around the country. Fiji Sports Council is tasked to manage, maintain and upkeep all facilities under its area of responsibilities. The ...

in the 1980s and was a life member of the Fiji Basketball Federation. Korovulavula also was a well known music composer and singer and was leader of a famous Fijian band, the Southern Brothers from the 1950s to the 1970s. His hits included "Nuku Vulavula", (Ena Veivei Gauna) "Vakanananu Lesu", "Au Moce Buna Au Qai Tadra", (Ni Lutu Na Yakavi Ena Toba Ko) "Suva". Following the

2006 Fijian coup d'état The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 was a coup d'état in Fiji carried out by Commodore (rank), Commodore Frank Bainimarama against Prime Minister of Fiji, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and President Josefa Iloilo. It was the culminatio ...

, he was appointed Minister of Transport, Works and Energy in the interim military regime. He was replaced as a Minister in a cabinet reshuffle in January 2008. He was subsequently controversially appointed to the Public Accounts Committee. Korovulavula was made an Officer of the

Order of Fiji The Order of Fiji is the highest Order (honour), honour of the Fijian honours system. Established 1 March 1995, the order is presented for achievement and merit to Fiji and mankind as a whole. The order is divided into a general division and mili ...

in the Republic of Fiji Honours List in the early 2000s for his services as administrator in the field of music, having co-founded the Fiji Composers Association and Fiji Performing Rights Association and holding Chairmanship of both organisations and helping improve the livelihood and welfare of Fiji musicians and composers. In 2014, he wrote a book about the Malayan campaign.

Personal life and death

Ratu Manu grew up during the World War years when American and New Zealand soldiers were stationed in Fiji. As a young boy Manu lived with his grandparents, Ivamere Korovulavula and Jovesa Korovulavula, his father, Major Isireli Korovulavula, was an officer in the Fijian army and fought in the war when

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

had taken place, he was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

. Ratu Manu attended Suva Methodist Boys School at

Toorak Toorak () is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Stonnington local government area. Toorak recorded a population of 12,817 at the 2021 census. The name ...

. Manu Korovulavula died on 6 November 2023, at the age of 89.Fiji army war veteran, former senator and music composer passes away
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Korovulavula, Manu 1934 births 2023 deaths Fijian chiefs Fijian civil servants I-Taukei Fijian members of the Senate (Fiji) Officers of the Order of Fiji National Alliance Party of Fiji politicians Transport ministers of Fiji Fijian Association Party politicians