The remains of Ro Veidovi, a high chief from Rewa, were returned to Fiji last Saturday, marking a significant moment 186 years after his passing in the United States. Ro Veidovi, a member of the esteemed chiefly lineage from the Roko Tui Dreketi family of Rewa, had a tumultuous history that led to his untimely death.
In 1840, Ro Veidovi was apprehended in Fiji by an American expedition and transported to the US, where he died just a day after arriving. His reputation had been marred by accusations surrounding the deaths of several American beche-de-mer traders on Ono Island, Kadavu, back in 1834. Following his death, his remains were subsequently moved to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., where they were preserved for many decades.
The return of Ro Veidovi’s remains to Fiji is a poignant reminder of the island’s history and the legacy of its leaders. This event not only honors a significant figure from Fiji’s past but also allows the local community to reconnect with their heritage and remember the complexities of their ancestral narratives.
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