Jonathan Fiifii'i
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Fiifii'i was born in 1921 (died October 1989) was a Kwaio
at Ane'emae near Oloburi, Malaita
, Solomon Islands
. His father was Buumae and mother Dafua.
He was a founder member of Maasina Ruru
in 1945, the independence movement which he started with Nori and Aliki Nono'oohimae who he met while serving in the Solomon Islands Labour Corps during World War 2.
After being arrested and held by the British
administration as a political prisoner he was released he continued to be involved in politics. Firstly in Subdistrict Committee in Ngarinaasuru, politics and later served in the pre-independence Governing Council
. He also joined the Legislative Assembly
and in 1972 he became Minister of Home Affairs in Solomon Mamaloni
's government.
He always remained critical of the government and even after independence remained so. He formed the Kwaio Cultural Centre in 1979.
In 1982 he wrote his autobiography From pig-theft to parliament, which was translated and edited by Roger Keesing
.
Kwaio
Kwaio is an ethnic group found in central Malaita, in the Solomon Islands. According to Ethnologue, they numbered 13,249 in 1999. Much of what is known about the Kwaio is due to the work of the Marxian anthropologist Roger M...
at Ane'emae near Oloburi, Malaita
Malaita
Malaita is the largest island of the Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands. A tropical and mountainous island, Malaita's pristine river systems and tropical forests have not been exploited. Malaita is the most populous island of the Solomon Islands, with 140,000 people or more than a third of the...
, Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
. His father was Buumae and mother Dafua.
He was a founder member of Maasina Ruru
Maasina Ruru
Maasina Ruru was an emancipation movement for self-government and self-determination during and after World War II, 1945–1950, credited with creating the movement towards independence for the Solomon Islands...
in 1945, the independence movement which he started with Nori and Aliki Nono'oohimae who he met while serving in the Solomon Islands Labour Corps during World War 2.
After being arrested and held by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
administration as a political prisoner he was released he continued to be involved in politics. Firstly in Subdistrict Committee in Ngarinaasuru, politics and later served in the pre-independence Governing Council
Governing Council
A Governing Council is a council which is mandated by the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus which was signed by Pope Benedict XVI on 4 November 2009 in order to help the ordinary run the personal ordinariate.The functions of the council are:...
. He also joined the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
and in 1972 he became Minister of Home Affairs in Solomon Mamaloni
Solomon Mamaloni
Solomon Mamaloni was the second Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands three times:* August 31, 1981 - November 19, 1984* March 28, 1989 - June 18, 1993* November 7, 1994 - August 27, 1997...
's government.
He always remained critical of the government and even after independence remained so. He formed the Kwaio Cultural Centre in 1979.
In 1982 he wrote his autobiography From pig-theft to parliament, which was translated and edited by Roger Keesing
Roger Keesing
Professor Roger Martin Keesing was a linguist and anthropologist, noted for his fieldwork on the Kwaio people of Malaita in the Solomon Islands, and his writings on a wide range of topics including kinship, religion, politics, history, cognitive anthropology and language. Keesing was a major...
.
Sources
- From pig-theft to parliament: My life between two worlds Translated and edited by Roger KeesingRoger KeesingProfessor Roger Martin Keesing was a linguist and anthropologist, noted for his fieldwork on the Kwaio people of Malaita in the Solomon Islands, and his writings on a wide range of topics including kinship, religion, politics, history, cognitive anthropology and language. Keesing was a major...
. Suva, Fiji : Institute of Pacific Studies ; Solomon Islands College of Higher Education, 1989. - Fifii (Paperback, 2002) by Jonathan Fifii, Julian Treadaway, University of the South PacificUniversity of the South PacificThe University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...