Sawau Explained

Official Name:	Sawau
Settlement Type:	Tribe
Pushpin Label Position:	bottom
Pushpin Map:	Fiji
Pushpin Map Caption:	Location in Fiji
Coordinates:	-18.4091°N 178.1402°W
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Fiji
Subdivision Type1:	Island
Subdivision Type2:	Division
Subdivision Name2:	Central Division

The Sawau (in Fijian pronounced as /saɰɔu̯/) tribe in Fiji is made of 6 villages on the island of Beqa, 10km (10miles) to the south of Viti Levu, but the District is only made up of 5 villages. They are as follows:

• Dakuibeqa (Chiefly Village –Tui Sawau),
• Dakuni,
• Soliyaga,
• Naceva,
• Naseuseu and
• Rukua – (Part of the Tribe of Sawau but part of the District of Raviravi)

The people of Sawau are known for performing two cultural expressions:

• Vilavilairevo (Firewalking)^{[1] [2]} The phenomena was examined in 1902 when it was already a tourist attraction, with a "Probable Explanation of the Mystery" arrived at.^[3]
• Yavirau or Qolikubu – (Fish drive)

References

• Guido Carlo Pigliasco (2020) The Custodians of the Gift. Fairy Beliefs, Holy Doubts and Heritage Paradoxes on a Fijian Island. Firenze University Press. DOI: 10.36253/978-88-5518-085-6

Notes and References

1. Book: Science of Pacific Island Peoples: Education, language, patterns & policy . Institute of Pacific Studies . Burns, Georgette Leah . 1994 . 29 . 9820201071 . R. J. Morrison . Paul A. Geraghty . Linda Crowl . Tourism Impact in Beqa . https://books.google.com/books?id=EpuRnl_ZJoQC&pg=PA29.
2. Web site: What is Firewalking in Fiji? . Captain Cook Cruises Fiji . February 15, 2016 . February 8, 2018 . Admin.
3. Art. XIII.—An Account of the Fiji Fire-walking Ceremony, or Vilavilairevo, with a Probable Explanation of the Mystery . Fulton, Robert . . 1902 . 35 . 187–201.