Owen Glenn’s Appointment as Ratu Vuilawa in Fiji

During the progression of the Solevu Village project, Ratu Sefanaia was so grateful to my father for all the work being done to improve the village that he offered to induct my father in to his family and appointment him as a Ratu in his own right. My father’s Ratu name is Ratu Vuilawa, so named after Ratu Sefanaia’s own grandfather, which is an immense honour. My father humbly and gladly accepted this generous offer.

On the day of the Sports Fund Raising there was a special induction ceremony held in the morning, with about 3000 people in attendance. Upon arrival at the village by boat, my father and I went to Ratu Sefanaia’s house where we were warmly welcomed. The protocol was for everyone outside to be seated and quiet and wait for us to arrive and for the Ratu and my father to be seated upon their specially made stage bearing their thrones.

Once installed, I gave a quick speech thanking everyone for being there and quickly explained the work that had been done in the village and also that Owen Glenn was about to be made a Ratu. Several traditional performances and dances took place, paying homage to Owen and he was presented with the traditional gifts of a whole cooked pig, a tabua (whale’s tooth) and other Fijian offerings. Once this was done the speaker for the village made the formal address to my father, performing the induction ceremony in Fijian. My father was allocated a Fijian villager to respond for him in Fijian. At the end of this discourse, Ratu Sefa rose, placed the tabua necklace around my father’s neck and welcomed him in to the family, proclaiming that Owen was now officially Ratu Owen ‘Vuilawa’ Glenn. A very proud moment for all the Glenn family!

Another welcoming dance was performed and kava was drunk by the two Ratus to celebrate the occasion. After a short break, the rugby and netball games began and lasted for the rest of the day. A shady area had been set up for the children to participate in an art/painting competition as well as have their faces painted. All the art supplies were donated through Hanna’s Dream, based in the USA. (More about Hanna’s Dream can be read on this website.) After the sports events, there was a Fijian feast put on and a band from Suva played music for everyone in to the night. A great deal of fun was had by everyone, and the village looked fantastic.

Suze Glenn
Glenn Family Foundation
GFF Fiji