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From Fiji Sun (30 April 2019) Apolosi Nawai's Rotuman Descendants Return To Roots Through 'Carasala' By Mereleki Nai Rotuman descendants of Ratu Apo losi Ralawaki Nawai have performed Carasala a traditional
The traditional gathering was held at NavatulevuVillage in Narewa, Nadi where Ratu Apolosi's The brief history of Nawai, reveals he was a commoner who later claimed to be a chief of Fiji. He was most famous in his time and some would say, the most notorious and also described as the During his second exile to the island of Rotuman, he was involved with a Rotuman woman and bore two sons. The third to the fifth generation of Ratu Apolosi have planned to reconnect to their forefather's place of origin at Navatulevu Village, Ratu Apolosi's great grandson, Pastor Apete Tanoa said their yavutu (place of origin) had now been completed with the return of the descendants of their Tai (forefather).
"It was a significant day for us today be cause we tethered link to our Rotuman relations who are descendants of our legendary Tai," Pastor Tanoa said. "The traditional protocol of returning to their original roots has impacted other descendants of Tai around Fiji, who all gathered here today. "The arrival of our Rotuman brothers to day also commemorates the life of our Tai. He has lived a significant life that influenced the nation, the economy and even the spirituality of the iTaukei. "There are events that he prophesied that have been fulfilled today." The Rotuman eldest grandson of Ratu Apolosi, Fereti Fonamanu Nawai, led his grandfather's descendants to their original place in Navatulevu. And a grandson of Apolosi, 80-year-old, Josevata Driu Tanoa, a first settler of Navatulevu Village said the place of origin had now been completed. Mr Tanoa acknowledged the Momo Na Tui Nadi that through his leadership, there was traditional mending of relationships that brought the Yavusa (tribe) together. Edited by Percy Kean. |
