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 ...

Popi Epeli Cakobau (1883–11 October 1936) was a Fijian chief and politician. He held the title of Vunivalu of Bau from 1914 until his death in 1936, and was also a nominated member of the Legislative Council.

Biography

Born Popi Epeli Senioli, he was the son of

Josefa Celua Ratu Josefa Celua (c. 1855 – 1886) was a Fijians, Fijian chief from the island of Bau (island), Bau. He was the youngest son of Seru Epenisa Cakobau, Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau (often spelt phonetically as Thakambau), Monarchy of Fiji, King of ...

, who was the third son of the Tui Viti

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, establishing ...

and Litia Samanunu, Ratu Popi inherited the title from his cousin,

Penaia Kadavulevu Ratu Penaia Kadavulevu (? – 1914) was the son of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, upon whose death in 1901 he inherited the title of Vunivalu of Bau, the paramount chief of the Kubuna Confederacy of Fiji. The school Ratu Kadavulevu School was fou ...

in 1914. Like his predecessor, Ratu Popi was a parliamentarian in the

Legislative Council of Fiji The Legislative Council of Fiji was the colonial precursor to the present-day Parliament, which came into existence when Fiji became independent on 10 October 1970. The first Legislative Council Immediately after Fiji was ceded to the United ...

. After his death in 1936, it is argued that his eldest son Tevita Naulivou inherited the title of Vunivalu, after whom it transferred to another son,

George Cakobau Ratu Sir George Kadavulevu Cakobau (6 November 1912 – 25 November 1989) was Governor-General of Fiji from 1973 to 1983. A great-grandson of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the King of Bau who had unified all the tribes of Fiji under his reign ...

. Popi and his wife Adi Torika were Christian converts. In 1934 he changed his name by

deed poll A deed poll (plural: deeds poll) is a legal document binding on a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an intention or create an obligation. It is a deed, and not a contract because it binds only one party (law), party. Et ...

to Popi Epeli Cakobau. In the same year he was made a

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

.Fiji Indian J.P.
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', 21 September 1934

References

*S. Berwick, ''Who's Who in Fiji'', Berwick Publishing House, 1990 1883 births Fijian chiefs Vunivalu of Bau 1936 deaths Tui Kaba 20th-century Oceanian people Members of the Legislative Council of Fiji Fijian justices of the peace {{Fiji-bio-stub