Somosomo () is a chiefly village in

Taveuni Taveuni (pronounced ) is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, with a total land area of . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated to the east of ...

, which is the

island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An isla ...

where the

International Date Line The International Date Line (IDL) is an internationally accepted demarcation on the surface of Earth, running between the South and North Poles and serving as the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific ...

crosses on land in

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 ...

. This island is part of the

Cakaudrove Province Cakaudrove is one of fourteen provinces of Fiji, and one of three based principally on the northern island of Vanua Levu, occupying the south-eastern third of the island and including the nearby islands of Taveuni, Rabi, Kioa, and numerous othe ...

and the holders of the title of ''

Tui Cakau The Tui Cakau is the Paramount Chief of Cakaudrove Province in Fiji. In Modern Fiji this chiefly title is regarded as the most senior in the Tovata Confederacy, and the third most senior in the country. Recent history The current ''Tui Cakau'' ...

'', the Paramount Chief of the Tovata Confederacy, are historically and traditionally linked to this village. The island was visited by the

US Exploring Expedition The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...

in 1840. In 1873, work commenced on a double-canoe called ''Ramarama'' at Somosomo, which was in length with a crew of 50 paddlers, although the vessel could carry an additional 200 warriors. Her steer oars were . The builders included Manase Gauamo, an expert

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

n canoe maker, who worked for five years to complete ''Ramarama''. The double-canoe was built for the Tui Cakau, who later gave ''Ramarama'' to

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 ...

. The double-canoe made three voyages to Tonga.

Famous persons from Somosomo

Fiji's first

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Penaia Ganilau Ratu Sir Penaia Kanatabatu Ganilau (28 July 1918 – 15 December 1993) was the first President of Fiji, serving from 8 December 1987 until his death in 1993. He had previously served as Governor-General of Fiji, representing Elizabeth II, ...

, was ''Tui Cakau'' and therefore a native of Somosomo. Chief Komaibatiniwai was from the noble family of Somosomo. Rugby league player Semi Radradra hails from the village.

Mythology

According to the myth,

god In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

who ruled over this village is

Qurai In Fijian mythology, Qurai (Ngurai) is a god In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Ox ...

. There is a short discussion of traditional religion as practiced on Somosomo in J. G. Frazer's famous work, The Golden Bough.Fraser, Golden Bough, Macmillan 1894, p. 39. Frazer describes belief in a continuity of divine nature between humans and deities, in which certain priests and chiefs were considered to be "sacred persons."

Notes

{{Coord, -16.803226, -179.998455, type:city, display=title Cakaudrove Province Populated places in Fiji Taveuni