Tora ni Bau

The Fijian island of Batiki in the Lomaiviti archipelago has two chiefs. The Komaivunivesi resides in Yavu village and the Tora ni Bau, the senior chief, in Mua village.

The title of the "Tora ni Bau," which translates as "Watchtower of Bau", was created by a Gudrunavanua, a high chief and warlord from Sawaieke on the island of Gau for his nephew Savai in the 1700s. The Tora ni Bau's duty was the gathering of information and monitoring of developments in the kingdom of Bau. Gudrunavanua feared that Bau posed a threat to the neighboring islands. A similar title and responsibility was created on the delta village of Nabitu in Tokatoka by the Sawaieke Warlord. This was for strategic purpose as he was planning to lanch an assault on the Rewan Roko Tui Dreketi,the King of the delta villages. Gudrunavanua, who was of Samoan ancestry, was famous for bestowing upon himself the title of Takala-i-Gau, or ruler of the island of Gau. His successor was named Toravi Nadawa or guardian of Nadawa. It was Toravi Nadawa who brought the Tui Dreketi to his knees begging for his life in Nabitu.