The villagers of Lomanikoro in Rewa were up early this morning to clean up the village and the sacred burial grounds for the repatriation of Ro Veidovi Logavatu from the US.
Despite the weather, the youths came out in numbers to be a part of the clean up.
Ro Veidovi is a Rewan chief from the 1800's and was the brother of the then Roko Tui Dreketi.
According to reported documents, Ro Veidovi is well known for his involvement in the 1840 attack on the American brig "Charles Deggett".
He was accused of murdering at least ten American merchant sailors. Lt. Charles Wilkes of the US Exploring Expedition was directed to take him into custody for trial.
Ro Veidovi was taken prisoner in 1840 and accompanied the Expedition aboard the USS Vincennes for the remainder of its voyage.
Ro Veidovi passed away on 12th June 1842 from Tuberculosis and was laid to rest at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York.
Head of Yavusa Burenivalu, Kavekini Utuutu says six villages have come together to organise this event and they include Nadoi, Drekena, Lokia, Vunu, Tavuya and Naricivo.
He says these are the six villages that are responsible for burying the chiefly family.
Utuutu says this has always been done by their elders and they are continuing that tradition.
He highlighted that on Saturday, the Yavusa Burenivalu will be responsible for taking the ashes to the sacred burial ground known as Muaiqele.
He adds that they are eager to showcase their tradition this Saturday.
The event will mark an historic moment for the people of Lomanikoro and the province of Rewa as they will lay to rest one of their chiefs that was taken to the US during the 1800s.
The event will be attended by US Ambassador Marie Damour and members of the diplomatic corps.
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