Dranivia

{{Unreferenced, date=December 2009 Dranivia was an 18th-century Lauan chief and noble of the

Vuanirewa The Vuanirewa is the ruling tribe (yavusa) of the Lau Islands, a scattered group of more than a hundred islands (16 inhabited) and reefs along the eastern edge of Fiji. Origins The members of this clan all hail from the village of Tubou on t ...

dynasty. He was the third son of

Uluilakeba I {{Unreferenced, date=October 2008 Uluilakeba was the eldest son of Niumataiwalu. He did not succeed to his fathers title, first since his father was not known to have been installed to the title of either Tui Nayau or Sau ni Vanua ko Lau, second i ...

and last recorded member of the noble household, Naivi, to hold the title

Roko Sau Sau Mai Kedekede now more commonly referred to as Sau ni Vanua ko Lau is one of the preeminent titles held by the Paramount Chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji. History The title Sau Mai Kedekede originates from the Tongan word “Hau”, denoting ...

of the

Lau Islands The Lau Islands aka little Tonga (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about sixty islands and islets, about thirty ...

. He is referred to as an usurper and often oral history does not include hims as a Roko Sau. He is said to have snatched the chieftainship during the absence of his uncle

Matawalu {{unreferenced, date=December 2009 Matawalu was a Fijian chief. He was the son of Niumataiwalu—first ''Roko Sau'' of Lau Islands—and Uma of Nukunuku. Matawalu became the fourth ''Roko Sau'', ruler of the Lau Islands, after the death of his ha ...

from

Lakeba Lakeba (pronounced ) is an island in Fiji’s Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers.Steadman (2006) It is fertile and we ...

, and without the consent of the

. On hearing of his nephew's treachery, Matawalu returned from Bau and reasserted his authority, while Dranivia was touring the Southern Lau islands. Dranivia immediately returned to Lakeba which precipitated in kin slaying amongst the Vuanirewa. Dranivia was defeated and he fled with his supporters to

Nayau Nayau is an island of 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-northeas ...

and establishing the village of Liku. It is recorded that Dranivia's aspiration for power does not end here. Matawalu himself was slain on Lakeba by his other nephew Malani, son of

Rasolo Rasolo was a Fijian High Chief. Family Father of Rasolo was Chief Niumataiwalu of Lakeba. Rasolo's mother was Lady Tarau of Tovu Totoya. Rasolo was a brother of Lady Sivoki and Uluilakeba I and half-brother of Matawalu. Rasolo's first wi ...

. On hearing this Dranivia again raised an army and attempted to seize Lakeba again. His attempt was thwarted however as Malani's relative, a son of

Delailoa Delailoa (born on Lakeba) was a Fijian High Chief. He had an instrumental role in maintaining the fortunes of the Vuanirewa under the reign of his relative Malani. Family Delailoa was a son of the Chief Qoma and grandson of Chief Kalouyalewa ...

residing on Nayau, warned him of Dranivia's impending plans. This information enabled Malani to crush Dranivia's forces and removed him from any further rebellions. It was due to the subduing of Dranivia, head the elder noble house of Naivi, by the younger noble households of Matailakeba (Malani) and Vatuwaqa ( Taliai Tupou) that has completely eliminated any members of Naivi, the right to contest for the title of

Tui Nayau ''Tu’i Nayau'' is the title held by the paramount chief of the Lau Islands in Fiji and is synonymous with the title holders over lordship of these islands. When translated, ''Tu’i Nayau'' means "Lord of Nayau", an island north of Lakeba, the l ...

to this day. Fijian chiefs People from Lakeba Tui Nayau Vuanirewa Year of death missing Year of birth missing