The late Tui Vuda Ratu Josefa Iloilo laid to rest in historic state funeral

The late former President and Tui Vuda, Ratu Josefa Iloilo was farewelled in a historic state funeral in Viseisei earlier today.

Thousands of people from all walks of life attended the church service and entombment ceremony in Vuda, with masi and black cloth covering the chiefly village grounds.

The late Tui Vuda was also accorded the highest military honor, the 21 gun salute, during the ceremony.

Ratu Josefa Iloilo who was born on the 29th of December, 1920, was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009.

During the church service, the Taukei Sawaieke, Ratu Tevita Momoedonu said Taveuni’s loss became Vuda’s gain when Ratu Iloilo left Taveuni to lead the people of Vuda.

While delivering the eulogy, Ratu Tevita revealed that the Tui Taveuni and his chiefly Nasuva clan rejected the traditional request twice for Ratu Iloilo’s release from Taveuni.

Ratu Iloilo was born and bred in Taveuni and it was not until he was 61 years old that he joined his father’s people in Vuda.

Ratu Iloilo’s mother, Adi Melania Ciba was installed as the Tui Taveuni when he was nine years old while his father became the Tui Vuda when he was 16.

Story by: Vijay Narayan