Ilaijia Varani

Ratu Ilaijia Varani was a chief of Viwa, Bau Island, Tailevu in Fiji in the mid-to-late 19th century. He was an important leader both as a pagan as a Christian. A friend and the right hand of Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau, feared by all, renowned as a warrior, respected as a leader. It cost him a great deal to become a Christian as he did on Good Friday, 1845. As a Christian, his powers passed not from him. His island of Viwa, became a haven of refuge for persecuted Christians. Yet despite the limitation placed on him by his new faith, he was never disloyal to his king.

Varani played a vital role in the protection of the early missionaries such as Reverend John Hunt and Wiliam Lyth to the Fiji group in the early 19th century. Under his protection, Christian missionaries managed to spread the influence of Christianity much more quickly than would have been expected. Cannibalism was still practiced at that time in Fiji.

His story still stands today to show how a leader may be loyal both to god and country. His energies were expended in endeavor to lead fighting tribes to peace – and in so doing he eventually paid the supreme price at Lovoni, Ovalau. Many Fijian Christians remember Ratu Ilaijia Varani as a fine example of real leadership – leadership which does not lose sight of its Christian responsibility in public life.

Memorials

One of the four houses at the Lelean Memorial School, a Methodist Church of Fiji run school at its Davuilevu compound at Nausori, Fiji, is named after this great Christian Fijian chief.

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References
    • Tippett, A.R., 1954, The Christian (Fiji 1835–1867), Auckland Institute and Museum, Auckland
    • GARRETT, John, 1982, To Live Among the Stars: Christian origins in Oceania,World Council of Churches in association with the Institute of Pacific Studies of the University of the South Pacific, Geneva/Suva.
    • CABENALEVU, Peni, 1996, ‘Viwa and Ratu Varani/Ko Ratu Ravisa Varani’,in Thornley and Vulaono 1996:73–86.
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