Tongan Chief and representative of King George Tupou I (King of Tonga) in Fiji from 1847 to annexation of Fiji by the British. Ma'afu became involved in the internal power politics of Fiji, and with Ratu Seru Cakabau of Bau, was the main power broker in Fiji prior to cessesion. After 1867 he set up the Lau Confederation in eastern Fiji in opposition to Ratu Seru Cakobau's Kingdom of Bau in the West. Ma'afuotu'itoga was probably his full Tongan personal name
Enele Ma'afu (Ma'afuotu'itoga), active 1840s-1870s
Ma'afu, active 1840s-1870s
There are 2 related items to this topic
Image
Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand album
Date: [ca 1873-1875]
By: Gaul, John, -1876; Lindt, John William, 1845-1926
Reference: PA1-q-330
Description: Includes views New Zealand, Pacific and Australia, including images of indigenous houses and plantations, and a series of 12 studio tableau portraits of Aboriginal Australians, taken by John William Lindt in 1873-1874. Kai Colo (Fijian people) - name for the people who live in the mountainous interior of Fiji. It's literal meaning is something like "mountaineer". This information was given by Dr Vicki Lukere (Luker), specialist in South Pacific history, Victoria University, 1997. A series of 12 studio tableau portraits of Aboriginal Australians by John Wiiliam Lindt, including three not found in this album, are at Library reference PA1-q-1317 Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: Photograph album. Provenance: Written comments in the album indicate that it might be associated with Commodore J Goodenough RN, who was appointed as a commissioner by the Crown to investigate the events that led to the annexation of Fiji. This album was compiled by an unidentified member of the Australian Division of the Royal Navy based at Sydney in the mid 1870s. The Australian Naval Station was responsible for policing the Pacific and supporting Britain's interests in the region. The one date associated with the album (1875) as well as some of the images, suggest that it was compiled soon after the cession of Fiji to the British Crown. The two ships associated with the album, HMS Blanche and HMS Pearl, were both stationed at Sydney and both were involved with events in Fiji before and during cession. HMS Pearl was Commodore Goodenough's flagship. He was the officer in charge of the Australian Naval Station at that time. He also played an important political role in the process of cession in Fiji. In the album he and his officers are shown swimming on Ovalau. The compiler of the album on the other hand, seems to have been personally associated with HMS Blanche. There are two pictures of this ship in the album as well as pictures of memorials erected by the captain and crew to one of their members. HMS Blanche had been active against the traffic in cheap labour in the South Pacific. In 1873 her paymaster, Lieutenant Nettleton, had acted as temporary British Consul in Fiji after the recall of E B March.
Image
Ma'afu
Date: ca 1873
From: Fiji, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand album
Reference: PA1-q-330-55-2
Description: Portrait of Enele Ma'afu (Ma'afuotu'itoga) The Tongan Prince sent to Fiji in 1847 by King George Topu 1, to look after the interests of Tongans there. From 1847 until the cession of Fiji to Britain in 1874 Ma'afu involved himself in the internal politics of the country. He and Ratu Seru Cakobau of Bau became the main power brokers in Fiji. After 1867 he set up the Lau Confederation in eastern Fiji in opposition to Ratu Seru Cakobau's Kingdom of Bau in the West. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).