The Sau turaga

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...

is the second highest clan of the Fijian

social hierarchy Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into groups based on socioeconomic factors like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or derived power (social and political). As su ...

system. The name itself means "steward chief". Holders of such a title have the paramount role of crowning a new

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

, assisting the chief and above all else defending the

sovereignty Sovereignty is the defining authority within individual consciousness, social construct, or territory. Sovereignty entails hierarchy within the state, as well as external autonomy for states. In any state, sovereignty is assigned to the perso ...

of the chief. Usually the turaga clan and the sau clan are but one family, the latter being the younger sibling in the original clan of

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...

. But the title holds prestige in the society as one of the closest in rank to that of the chief. Only they can make a new chief and can temporarily hold the position until one is made. The clan is the second most important in the traditional Fijian hierarchical social structure. They are also called king makers and thus they have the most important role of installing a chief. They have gifted powers called the 'Sau', given from their Ancient creator who lives in the sea. These powers can make them foretells the future, make a curse or break them. Before they passed, their powers will be returned to the one who gave it to them and He (The Creator), will give the power of the Sau to one of the Sau Turaga clans.

See also