Popi Seniloli Explained

Popi Seniloli
Honorific Prefix:Ratu
Office:Vunivalu of Bau
Term Start:1914
Term End:1936
Predecessor:Penaia Kadavulevu
Successor:Tevita Naulivou
Office2:Roko Tui of Tailevu Province
Term Start2:1920
Term End2:1936
Predecessor2:Joni Madraiwiwi I
Successor2:Isireli Tawake
Office3:Nominated Member of the Legislative Council
Term Start3: 
Term End3:1936
Birth Date:1883
Death Date:11 October 1936

Ratu Popi Epeli Cakobau (1883–11 October 1936)[1] [2] 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, who was the third son of the Tui Viti Seru Epenisa Cakobau and Litia Samanunu. Ratu Popi inherited the title from his cousin, Penaia Kadavulevu in 1914.

Like his predecessor, Ratu Popi was a parliamentarian in the Legislative Council of Fiji. 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.

Popi and his wife Adi Torika were Christian converts.[3]

In 1934 he changed his name by deed poll to Popi Epeli Cakobau.[4] In the same year he was made a Justice of the Peace.[5]

References

Notes and References

  1. [Lala Sukuna]
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-312543610/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328630690&searchTerm=%22ratu+popi%22&partId=nla.obj-312598495#page/n9/mode/1up/search/%22ratu+popi%22 Death of Ratu Popi
  3. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-310913018/view?partId=nla.obj-310926612#page/n30/mode/1up 100 years of mission work in Fiji
  4. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-311538184/view?partId=nla.obj-311544664#page/n46/mode/1up Grandson of Cakobau
  5. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-311547727/view?partId=nla.obj-311552198#page/n30/mode/1up Fiji Indian J.P.