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 re ...

Joni Madraiwiwi (1859 – December 1920) was a

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consis ...

and early colonial administrator in what was then the British Crown Colony of

Heritage

Born in Bau,Stewart Firth & Daryl Tarte (2001) ''20th Century Fiji: People who shaped this nation'', USP Solutions, pp47–48 Madraiwiwi was the son of Bauan chief and rebel Ratu Mara Kapaiwai, who had been executed by his cousin

Seru Epenisa Cakobau Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau (; occasionally spelled ''Cacobau'' or phonetically ''Thakombau'') (c.1815 – 1 February 1883) was a Fijian Ratu and warlord ('' Vunivalu'') who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership, establishi ...

on 6 August 1859, shortly after Madraiwiwi's birth. His mother, Adi Loaloakubou was half-sister of Ratu Cakobau the

Vunivalu of Bau Turaga na Vunivalu na Tui Kaba is the Paramount Chief of the Kubuna Confederacy, loosely translated the title means ''Warlord of Bau'' or Root of War. The succession to the title does not follow primogeniture, but the candidate must be a high- ...

and later King of Fiji. Her marriage to Mara Kapaiwai came after she had been promised first to the

Tui Nakelo Tui or TUI may refer to: Places * Tui, Pontevedra, Spain * Tui, Iran, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Tui, North Khorasan, North Khorasan Province, Iran * Tui Province, Burkina Faso * Tuis District, Costa Rica * Tui railway station, New Zeal ...

in return for support against one of many campaigns between Bau and Rewa; this promise was reneged upon, and she was given to

Gavidi, Komai Nadrukuta. She was widowed on 26 April 1850 when Gavidi was shot in the back during a skirmish with the rival

vanua __NOTOC__ The word ''banua'' or ''vanua'' – meaning "land," "home," or "village" – occurs in several Austronesian languages. It derives from the Proto-Austronesian reconstructed form *''banua''. The word has particular significance in several ...

of Verata. Prior to his execution, Mara Kapaiwai named his son Madraiwiwi, meaning "sour bread". Madraiwiwi was raised in Cakobau's household. He was educated in Navuloa by Methodist missionaries before entering the civil service as an audit clerk. In 1887 Madraiwiwi married Adi

Litiana Maopa Adi Litiana Maopa (1864-1933) was a prominent member of two of Fiji's main chiefly houses, those of the Tui Nayau, the paramount chief of the Lau Islands, and the chiefly house of the Vunivalu of BauHenry Soszynski, World of Royalty Website, 1996-2 ...

, a granddaughter of Cakobau. They had six children;

Lala Sukuna Ratu Sir Josefa Lalabalavu Vanayaliyali Sukuna (22 April 1888 – 30 May 1958) was a Fijian chief, scholar, soldier, and statesman. He is regarded as the forerunner of the post-independence leadership of Fiji. He did more than anybody to la ...

(later one of the main leaders of Fiji), Asenaca Teimumu Vuikaba,

Tiale Vuiyasawa Ratu Tiale Wimbledon Thomas Vuiyasawa (died March 1981) was a Fijian chief, civil servant and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council and Senate. Biography Vuiyasawa was born into a chiefly family, the second son of Joni Ma ...

, Kacaraini Loaloakubou, J.A.R. Dovi (Fiji's first qualified doctor) and Timoci Tavanavanua.Vunivalu of Bau (Chiefly Title)
World of Royalty Madraiwiwi progressed rapidly through the civil service and was appointed to the Legislative Council. In 1896 he became the

Roko Tui Roko may refer to: * Roko (given name), a Croatian masculine name * Roko, a surname: ** Amy Roko, the stage name of a Saudi Arabian comedian ** Nasoni Roko, a Fijian rugby union player * Roko (title), a title of chiefly rank used in Fiji, includin ...

Ra Province Ra is one of the fourteen provinces of Fiji. Occupying the northern area of Viti Levu, the largest island, it is one of eight Viti Levu-based Provinces. With a land area of 1341 square kilometers, it had a population of 30,432 at the 2017 census ...

, the highest position open to Fijians. He also began serving as Roko Tui of

Bua Province Bua is one of fourteen provinces of Fiji. Located in the west of the northern island of Vanua Levu, it is one of three northern provinces, and has a land area of 1,379 square kilometers within the three main districts of Bua, Vuya and Wainunu. ...

in 1904, before being appointed Roko Tui of

Tailevu Province Tailevu is one of the 14 provinces of Fiji. Overview One of the eight provinces based in Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, Tailevu's 755 square kilometers occupy the south-eastern fringe of the island along with some central areas. At the 201 ...

in 1912.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madraiwiwi, Joni, I 1859 births 1920 deaths Fijian chiefs People from Bau (island) Fijian civil servants Members of the Legislative Council of Fiji Madraiwiwi, Ratu Joni