Sawau

Sawau
Tribe
Sawau Location in Fiji
Coordinates: 18°24′32.65″S 178°8′24.67″E
Country	Fiji
Division	Central Division

Vilavilairevo - Traditional Beqa Firewalking

The Sawau (Fijian pronunciation: [saɰɔu̯]) tribe in Fiji is made of 6 villages on the island of Beqa, 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) 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

1. Burns, Georgette Leah (1994). "Tourism Impact in Beqa". In R. J. Morrison; Paul A. Geraghty; Linda Crowl (eds.). Science of Pacific Island Peoples: Education, language, patterns & policy. Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 29. ISBN 9820201071.
2. Admin (February 15, 2016). "What is Firewalking in Fiji?". Captain Cook Cruises Fiji. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
3. Fulton, Robert (1902). "Art. XIII.—An Account of the Fiji Fire-walking Ceremony, or Vilavilairevo, with a Probable Explanation of the Mystery". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 35: 187–201.