Lomaloma is a village

Village

A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...

 on the Fiji

Fiji

Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...

 island of Vanua Balavu

Vanua Balavu

Vanua Balavu is the second largest island in Fiji's Lau archipelago , and the main island of the Northern Lau Group.-Geography and infrastructure:...

 in the Lau

Lau Islands

The Lau Islands of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about one hundred islands and islets, about thirty are inhabited...

 archipelago

Archipelago

An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...

. It is part of the Tikina (tribal district) of Lomaloma which comprises 9 villages, which is further made up of 13 Yavusa (tribes) which are further broken down into 42 Mataqali (Clans) and 54 Tokatoka (Family Units) from early records first documented in 1881 by the Native Lands and Fisheries Commission there were three Turaga i Taukei (Senior Chiefs) for Lomaloma Tikina listed, the first being Ratu Jese Waqalekaleka - Turaga Rasau, then Ma'afu

Enele Ma'afu

Enele Ma'afu'otu'itonga, commonly known as Ma'afu, was a man of two kingdoms being traditionally a Tongan Prince and a self forged Fijian chief.-A Brief History:...

 representing Yavusa Toga of Sawana

Sawana

Sawana is a village on the Fijian island of Vanua Balavu, in the Lau archipelago and is part of the Tikina of Lomaloma.Sawana is separated from the main village of Lomaloma only by a large ditch...

 and Jaoti Sugasuga - Turaga Ravunisa. The 9 villages of Lomaloma Tikina are Lomaloma, Sawana

Sawana

Sawana is a village on the Fijian island of Vanua Balavu, in the Lau archipelago and is part of the Tikina of Lomaloma.Sawana is separated from the main village of Lomaloma only by a large ditch...

, Susui, Narocivo, Namalata

Namalata

Namalata is a village and its own island but is part of the Island Group of Vanua Balavu in Fiji's Lau archipelago. Namalata is part of Lomaloma Tikina....

, Uruone, Levukana, Dakuiloma and Tuvuca

Tuvuca

Tuvuca is a small island off Vanua Balavu in Fiji's Lau archipelago, it is a densely wooded and inhabited island and rises 800 feet above sea level at the highest point. There is only one village on the island...

.

Village and District titles

Currently the Chief of Lomaloma Village or the Tui Lomaloma is the Turaga Na Ravunisa

Turaga Na Ravunisa

The Turaga Na Ravunisa is a Fijian Chiefly title of the Lau Islands, in particular the Village of Lomaloma on the Island of Vanuabalavu.-The Title:...

, while the Chieftain of Lomaloma Tikina is the Turaga na Rasau

Turaga na Rasau

Turaga Na Rasau is a traditional Fijian chiefly title of the Lau Islands.Prior to Fiji's colonial days, Fiji had many different Vanua with their own Paramount Chieftain which exercised no authority over the other; a saying from the island of Kadavu aptly summarises it “Nomu Turaga o sega na noqu...

, both Chiefly families reside in Lomaloma Village.

Currently Ratu Keni Ugadregadrega Naulumatua (whose Grandfather; Ratu Jese Waqalekaleka, Father; Ratu

Ratu

Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...

 Keni Naulumatua, and Brother; Ratu Viliame Fonolahi Keni all were installed as Turaga na Rasau) has been formally accepted for installation by the Family Valelevu of Yavusa Buca for installation, his traditional installation will not take place until late 2008. Ratu Keni Naulumatua is a member of the Fiji Military Forces.

Other chiefly titles in Lomaloma Tikina are Tui Naturuku, Tui Urone, Tui Levukana, Tui Narocivo, Tui Daku, Tui Susui, Tui Mago(Namalata), Ramasi(Tuvuca Island).

A brief history

In early Fijian history, Lomaloma village while being small in comparison was considered as the first modern town in Fiji, it was set up by Tongan Warload Enele Ma'afu

Enele Ma'afu

Enele Ma'afu'otu'itonga, commonly known as Ma'afu, was a man of two kingdoms being traditionally a Tongan Prince and a self forged Fijian chief.-A Brief History:...

 as his capital while attempting to forge a kingdom of his own. In Ma'afu's time it also acted as a key port of call between Tonga

Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...

 and Viti Levu

Viti Levu

Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...

.

Points of interest

Lomaloma as a Village and as a District is known all over Fiji for a popular song called Lomaloma, which has been sung by various local artists and bands in Fiji. It is also a very popular pub song. The song is rumoured to have been written by the late Ratu

Ratu

Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...

 Tevita Uluilakeba Tui Nayau

Tui Nayau

Tui 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 Tui Nayau means Lord of Nayau, an island north of Lakeba, the latter accepted by many to be the chiefly island in the Lauan...

 and father of the late Ratu

Ratu

Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...

 Sir

Sir

Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...

 Kamisese Mara

Kamisese Mara

Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, CF, GCMG, KBE is considered the founding father of the modern nation of Fiji. He was Chief Minister from 1967 to 1970, when Fiji gained its independence from the United Kingdom, and, apart from one brief interruption in 1987, the first Prime Minister from 1970 to 1992...

, Fiji's longtime Prime Minister

Prime Minister of Fiji

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....

 and President

President of Fiji

The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but...

, while he was courting his first wife and mother of Ratu Mara, Adi

Adi (title)

Adi is a title used by Fijian women of chiefly rank, namely female members of chiefly clans. It is the equivalent of the Ratu title used by male chiefs. It is in general use throughout most of Fiji, although on Kadavu Island, Bulou is used instead....

 Luisiana Qolikoro, who at that time lived in Lomaloma but was from Sawana

Sawana

Sawana is a village on the Fijian island of Vanua Balavu, in the Lau archipelago and is part of the Tikina of Lomaloma.Sawana is separated from the main village of Lomaloma only by a large ditch...

.

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