Rotuma

Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a large and unique Polynesian indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognisable minority within the population of Fiji, known as " Rotumans". Its population at the 2017 census was 1,594, although many more Rotumans live on mainland Fijian islands, totaling 10,000.

Geography and geology

The Rotuma group of volcanic islands are located (Suva to Ahau) north of Fiji. Rotuma Island itself is long and wide, with a land area of approximately , making it the 12th-largest of the Fiji islands. The island is bisected by an isthmus into a larger eastern part and a western peninsula. The isthmus is low and narrow, only wide, and is the site of Motusa village ( Itutiu district). North of the isthmus is Maka Bay, and in the south is Hapmafau Bay. There is a large population of coral reefs in these bays, and there are boat passages through them.

Rotuma is a shield volcano made of alkali-olivine basalt and hawaiite, with many small cones. It reaches above sea level at Mount Suelhof, near the center of the island. Satarua Peak, high, lies near the eastern end of the island. While they are very secluded from much of Fiji proper, the large reef and untouched beaches are renowned as some of the most beautiful in the Kingdom of Fiji.

There are several islands that lie between and distant from the main island, but are still within the fringing reef. They are:
*Solnohu (south)
* Solkope and Sari'i (southeast)
* Afgaha and Husia Rua (far southeast)
* Husia (Husiatiu) and Husiameamea (close southeast)
* Hạuameamea and Hạua (Hạuatiu) (close together northeast).

There is also a separate chain of islands that lie between and to the northwest and west of Rotuma Island. In order, from northeast to southwest, these are:

* Uea
* Hạfhai
* Hạfhahoi
* Hạfhaveiaglolo
* Hatana
* Hạfliua.

The geological features of this island contribute to its national significance, as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

Climate

Flora and fauna

A area covering the main island and its small satellite islets is the Rotuma Important Bird Area. The Important Bird Area covers the entire range of the vulnerable Rotuma myzomela, and the Rotuman subspecies of Polynesian starling and Fiji shrikebill. Rotuma also supports isolated outlying populations of Crimson-crowned fruit dove and Polynesian triller. The offshore islets of Haatana, Hofliua and Hatawa have nationally significant seabird colonies.

History

Linguistic evidence

The first settlers on the island of Rotuma were from Tahiti. Whereby after the Samoan and Tongan invasion they created the current unique Rotuman language in order to understand each other. Linguists include the Rotuman language in a subgroup with the languages of western Fiji, but Rotuman also has a large number of Polynesian loanwords, indicating later contact with Samoa and Tonga.

Origins per linguistic evidence and oral history

According to linguistic evidence, the original inhabitants of Rotuma came from Borabora (Tahiti). Later Rotuma appears to have been invaded by Samoa. Still, according to the island's (apparently erroneous) oral history the first settlers of the islands came from Samoa, led by a man named Raho. The island's oral history further states that shortly afterwards additional settlers also arrived from Tonga, Tahiti, Niue, Wallis & Futuna, Tuvalu and other adjacent islands.

Historical Tongan and Samoan invasions

In the 1850s and 1860s, the Tongan prince Ma'afu claimed possession of Rotuma and sent his subordinates to administer the main island and its neighboring islets.

In 1896, the scholar Friedrich Ratzel recorded a Samoan legend about Samoans’ relationship to Rotuma:

"Thus the Samoans relate that one of their chiefs fished in the vicinity of Rotuma and then planted coco-palms on the main island. In a later migration the chief Tokaniua came that way with a canoe full of men and quarrelled with the Samoan chief Raho about who had the right of possession."

European contact

Tupaia’s Map is among the most important artifacts to have come from late 18th-century European–Indigenous encounters in the South Pacific region. Depicting, in Epeli Hau‘ofa’s terms,1 a ‘sea of islands’ extending for more than 7,000 km from Rapa Nui in the east to Rotuma in the west and more than 5,000 km from Hawai‘i in the north to New Zealand in the south.The earliest known confirmed European sighting of Rotuma was in 1791, when Captain Edward Edwards and the crew of HMS ''Pandora'' landed in search of sailors who had disappeared following the Mutiny on the Bounty. Some scholars have suggested that the first European to sight the island was, instead, Pedro Fernandes de Queirós: His description of an island he sighted is consistent with the characteristics and location of Rotuma. However, this possibility has not been conclusively substantiated.

Mid-19th century

A favorite of whaling ships in need of reprovisioning, in the mid-nineteenth century Rotuma also became a haven for runaway sailors, some of whom were escaped convicts. Some of these deserters married local women and contributed their genes to an already heterogeneous pool; others met violent ends, reportedly at one another's hands. The first recorded whaleship to visit was the ''Loper'' in 1825, and the last known visit was by the '' Charles W. Morgan'' in 1894. Rotuma was visited as part of the United States Exploring Expedition in 1840.

Cession to Britain

Wesleyan missionaries from Tonga arrived on Rotuma in June 1841, followed by Catholic Marists in 1847. The Roman Catholic missionaries withdrew in 1853 but returned in 1868. Conflicts between the two groups, fuelled by previous political rivalries among the chiefs of Rotuma's seven districts, resulted in hostilities that led the local chiefs in 1879 to ask Britain to annex the island group. On 13th May 1881, Rotuma was officially ceded to the United Kingdom, when the British flag was hoisted by Mr.Hugh Romilly. The event is annually celebrated as Rotuma Day.

Demographics

Although the island has been politically part of Fiji since 1881, Rotumans are Polynesians and their culture more closely resembles that of the Polynesian islands to the east, most noticeably Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, Futuna, and Uvea. Because of their Polynesian appearance and distinctive language, Rotumans now constitute a recognizable minority group within the Republic of Fiji. The great majority of Rotumans (9,984 according to the 2007 Fiji census) now live elsewhere in Fiji, with 1,953 Rotumans remaining on Rotuma. Rotumans are culturally conservative and maintain their customs in the face of changes brought about by increased contact with the outside world. As recently as 1985, some 85 percent of Rotumans voted against opening the island up to tourism, wary of the influence of Western tourists. P&O Cruises landed on the island twice in the 1980s.

Notable Rotumans and people of Rotuman descent

* Robin E. Mitchell, Robin Everett Mitchell">Riamkau was the next-to-last Fakpure -->
* Robin E. Mitchell, Robin Everett Mitchell
: president of the Association of National Olympic Committees; the Oceania National Olympic Committee; and “Olympic Solidarity.”
*Paul Manueli: former commander of the Royal Fiji Military Forces; Fiji cabinet minister; senator; successful businessman
*Jioji Konrote: president of Fiji (from 2015 to 2021); former high commissioner to Australia
* Marieta Rigamoto: former Fiji information minister
* Daniel Fatiaki: Chief Justice of Fiji
* Seán Óg and Setanta Ó hAilpín (brothers of Rotuman descent): Irish sportsmen
* John Sutton: National Rugby League player
* Vilsoni Hereniko: playwright; film director
* Sapeta Taito: actress (''The Land Has Eyes'')
*Jono Gibbes (of Rotuman descent on his mother’s side): New Zealand rugby union player
* Rocky Khan (of Rotuman descent on his mother’s side): New Zealand Rugby Union player
* Graham Dewes: Fiji Rugby Union player
*Daniel Rae Costello (of Rotuman descent): Fijian-born musician
* Rebecca Tavo (has a Rotuman father): Australian touch-rugby player
* Selina Hornibrook (has a Rotuman mother): former Australian netball player
* Ngaire Fuata (has a Rotuman father): New Zealand television producer and singer
* Pene Erenio: top Fiji soccer player (Savusavu)
* Ravai Fatiaki: Fiji Rugby Union player
* Sofia Tekela-Smith (raised on Rotuma by her grandmother): New Zealand artist
*David Eggleton (of Rotuman descent on his mother’s side): Poet Laureate of New Zealand
* Fred Fatiaki: coach
* Lee Roy Atalifo: Fiji Rugby Union player

Politics and society

In 1881 a group of Rotuman chiefs travelled to Levuka, Ovalau, Fiji, to meet Queen Victoria's official representative to complete the process of secession. A memorial to the seven chiefs and their mission is located in the District of Itutiu. In response to the secession, Queen Victoria bestowed the name of Albert on the paramount chief at the time - Gagaj Vaniak - in honour of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, who had died twenty years before.

After Rotuma was ceded to the United Kingdom, it was governed as part of the Colony of Fiji. Rotuma remained with Fiji after Fiji's independence in 1970 and the military coups of 1987.

Sociopolitical organization

Rotuma is divided into seven autonomous districts, each with its own chief ( Gagaj es Ituu), with villages:
# Noatau (extreme southeast): Fekeioko, Maragteu, Fafiasina, Matuea, Ututu, Kalvaka
# Oinafa (east): Oinafa, Lopta, Paptea
# Itutiu (west, but east of western peninsula): Savlei, Lạu, Feavại, Tuạkoi, Motusa, Hapmak, Losa, Fapufa, Ahạu (Government Station)
# Malhaha (north): Pepheua, Elsee, Elsio
# Juju (south): Tuại, Haga, Juju
# Pepjei (southeast): Ujia, Uạnheta, Avave
# Itumuta (western peninsula): Maftoa, Lopo

The district chiefs and elected district representatives make up the Rotuma Island Council. The districts are divided into subgroupings of households (hoaga) that function as work groups under the leadership of a subchief (gagaj es hoaga). All district headmen and the majority of hoaga headmen are titled. In addition, some men hold titles without headship (as tög), although they are expected to exercise leadership roles in support of the district headman. Titles, which are held for life, belong to specified house sites (fuạg ri). All the descendants of previous occupants of a fuạg ri have a right to participate in the selection of successors to titles.

On formal occasions titled men and dignitaries such as ministers and priests, government officials, and distinguished visitors occupy a place of honor. They are ceremonially served food from special baskets and kava. In the daily routine of Village life, however, they are not especially privileged. As yet no significant class distinctions based on wealth or control of resources have emerged, but investments in elaborate housing and motor vehicles by a few families have led to visible differences in standard of living.

Political organization

At the time of arrival by Europeans there were three pan-Rotuman political positions created by the Samoan invaders: the fakpure, the sạu, and the mua. The fakpure acted as convener and presiding officer over the council of district headmen and was responsible for appointing the sạu and ensuring that he was cared for properly. The fakpure was headman of the District that headed the alliance that had won the last war. The sạu's role was to take part in the ritual cycle, oriented toward ensuring prosperity, as an object of veneration. Early European visitors referred to the sạu as "king", but he actually had no secular power. The position of sạu was supposed to rotate between districts, and a breach of this custom was considered to be incitement to war. The role of mua is more obscure, but like the sạu, he was an active participant in the ritual cycle. According to some accounts the mua acted as a kind of high priest.

Following Christianization in the 1860s, the offices of sạu and mua were terminated. Colonial administration involved the appointment by the governor of Fiji of a Resident Commissioner (after 1935, a District Officer) to Rotuma. He was advised by a council composed of the district chiefs. In 1940 the council was expanded to include an elected representative from each district and the Assistant Medical Practitioner. Following Fiji's independence in 1970, the council assumed responsibility for the internal governance of Rotuma, with the District Officer assigned to an advisory role. Up until the first coup, Rotuma was represented in the Fiji legislature by a single senator.

Administratively, Rotuma is fully incorporated into Fiji, but with local government so tailored as to give the island a measure of autonomy greater than that enjoyed by other political subdivisions of Fiji. Rotuma has the status of a Dependency, and its administrative capital is Ahạu in the district of Itutiu, where the "tariạgsạu" (traditionally the name of the sạu's palace) meeting house for the Council of Rotuma is based.

At the national level, Fijian citizens of Rotuman descent elect one representative to the Fijian House of Representatives, and the Council of Rotuma nominates one representative to the Fijian Senate. Rotuma is also represented in the influential Great Council of Chiefs by three representatives chosen by the Council of Rotuma. For electoral purposes, Rotumans were formerly classified as Fijians, but when the Constitution was revised in 1997–1998, they were granted separate representation at their own request. (The majority of seats in Fiji's House of Representatives are allocated on a communal basis to Fiji's various ethnic groups) In addition, Rotuma forms part (along with Taveuni and the Lau Islands) of the Lau Taveuni Rotuma Open Constituency, one of 25 constituencies whose representatives are chosen by universal suffrage.

Social control

The ''hoaga'', a kinship community, was the basic residential unit in pre-contact Rotuma. The basis for social control is a strong socialization emphasis on social responsibility and a sensitivity to shaming. Gossip serves as a mechanism for sanctioning deviation, but the most powerful deterrent to antisocial behavior is an abiding belief in imminent justice, that supernatural forces (the atua or spirits of ancestors) will punish wrongdoing. Rotumans are a rather gentle people; violence is extremely rare and serious crimes nearly nonexistent.

Conflict

Prior to cession, warfare, though conducted on a modest scale, was endemic in Rotuma. During the colonial era political rivalries were muted, since power was concentrated in the offices of Resident Commissioner and District Officer. Following Fiji's independence, however, interdistrict rivalries were again given expression, now in the form of political contention. Following the second coup, when Fiji left the Commonwealth of Nations, a segment of the Rotuman population, known as the "Mölmahao Clan" of Noatau rejected the council's decision to remain with the newly declared republic. Arguing that Rotuma had been ceded to the United Kingdom and not to Fiji, these rebels declared in 1987 independence of Republic of Rotuma and were charged with sedition. It did not have any substantive support, majority opinion appears to favor remaining with Fiji, but rumblings of discontent remain.

See also

*List of volcanoes in Fiji
*Rotuma Airport
* Rotuman New Zealanders

References

Islands of Fiji
Island Directory, United Nations Environment Programme

*A.M. Hocart, Notes on Rotuman Grammar, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, London, 1919, 252.

External links

Rotuma website
- an exhaustive website on all things Rotuman by anthropologists Alan Howard and Jan Rensel

The Land Has Eyes
- an award-winning film set in Rotuma made by Rotumans.

Rotuman Hafa
- Rotuman dance (see also Tautoga)

Amateur radio
- Amateur radio operations from Rotuma, with information on Rotuman history, culture, flora, fauna, geography, etc.; lengthy bibliography.

General information, energy supply

The Vertebrates of Rotuma and Surrounding Waters, by George R. Zug, Victor G. Springer, Jeffrey T. Wiliams and G. David Johnson, Atoll Research Bulletin, No. 316

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Rotuma Group
Geography of Polynesia
Islands of Fiji
Volcanoes of Fiji
Shield volcanoes
Divisions of Fiji
States and territories established in 1881
1881 establishments in the British Empire
Preliminary Register of Sites of National Significance in Fiji
Important Bird Areas of Fiji
Island countries