Niumataiwalu was a Fijian high chief. The name Niumataiwalu, translated as "I came first to Walu beach", was in memory of his grandfather Naosara (also known as Kubunavanua) for winning the leadership contest among Rokomautu's seventeen grandchildren at Walu beach, Verata. Niumataiwalu's father, Delaivugalei, was the younger brother of Qoma, whose father was Kalouyalewa.

Niumataiwalu killed his uncle Qoma and his sons, in retribution for the murder of his own parents and sibling. This series of events eventually paved the way for his descendants' overlordship of the Lau Islands. The Vuanirewa clan was established by his children.

Legend, scandal, and death

Fijian legend has it that Niumataiwalu was renowned not only for his valour in battle but also for his beauty. This latter attribute would eventually attract the attention of one of the noble women of Bau, causing an illicit affair and leading to his eventual demise, for the woman was Adi Davila of Nairai, wife of the Vunivalu, or paramount chief, of the Kubuna Confederacy. The adulterous affair did not come to light until Adi realized she was pregnant, and though she wasn't harmed, the Vunivalu bided his time and planned revenge for this offence upon himself and his noble household. He obtained the support of two Ono-i-Lau chiefs, Saunikalou and Radua, who were visiting Bau at the time and were subjects of Niumataiwalu, by presenting them with a tabua made of black stone and requesting the murder of their overlord.

In time, Niumataiwalu visited Matokano village in Ono-i-Lau, and a welcoming feast was accordingly prepared for him. This presented an opportunity for the two conspiring chiefs to enact the instructions of the Vunivalu. As all weapons were forbidden in the area where the kava ceremony was to take place, Saunikalou hid a war club in a hollowed-out banana stem and instructed his young son to play with it as a toy. When Niumataiwalu received the kava, he unsuspectingly lowered his head, at which point Saunikalou grabbed the hidden weapon and struck him. The first blow did not kill Niumataiwalu, and he fled towards the beach in the hope of gaining aid from some of his men. He was overpowered by Saunikalou and his men, however, and clubbed to death.

The legend states that the area where Niumataiwalu was killed is cursed for the spilling of his noble blood. The vegetation in this area, called Cuga, supposedly still retains a whitish tinge amidst a surrounding area of deep green. Due to its backstory, the area is the only place on the island not belonging to the people of Ono-i-Lau, as it belongs to the Vuanirewa to this day. In the 20th century, the Vuanirewa descendants of Niumataiwalu have made attempts to retrieve his remains for reburial in Tubou, Lakeba.

Lineage

Niumataiwalu had three wives and multiple children. Four of his sons succeeded to his title. His recorded wives and children, in order of seniority, were:

• By Radini Levuka
  • Ratu Banuve Baleivavalagi (father of Ratu Tanoa Visawaqa)^[1]
• By his first wife, Tarau of Tovu Totoya
  • Sivoki
  • Uluilakeba I^[2]
  • Rasolo
  • Mokoi
• By his second wife, Uma of Nukunuku
  • Matawalu
• By his third wife (name unknown), from Cakaudrove
  • Lubati

References

Further reading

• Yalo i Viti: Shades of Viti – a Fiji Museum Catalogue: page 173; by Fergus Clunie, Fiji Museum, and Julia Brooke-White (1986)
• Folk-Lore: A Quarterly Review of Myth, Tradition, Institution, and Custom – page 119; by Sidgwick; Folklore Society, (Great Britain), Parish Register Society, (Great Britain), Published 1977, Northern Micrographics for Brookhaven Press, Original from the University of Michigan, Digitized 14 July 2006.