Jonathan Fiifii'i
Jonathan Fiifii'i (1921 – October 1989) was a Kwaio at Ane'emae near Oloburi, Malaita, Solomon Islands. His father was Buumae and mother Dafua.
Biography
He was a founder member of Maasina Ruru in 1945, the independence movement which he started with Nori and Aliki Nono'oohimae whom he met while serving in the Solomon Islands Labour Corps during World War II.
After being arrested and held by the British administration as a political prisoner he was released he continued to be involved in politics, beginning with the Subdistrict Committee in Ngarinaasuru. In the 1970 general elections he was elected to the Governing Council in the Central Malaita constituency.[1] He was re-elected in the 1973 elections in the Kwaio constituency.[1]
In 1976 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly (which the Governing Council had been transformed into in 1974) from the East Kwaio constituency.[1] He lost his seat in 1980 when he was beaten by Daniel Foasifobae.[1]
He challenged Foasifobae again in the 1984 elections, but lost again.[1]
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.
References
- From pig-theft to parliament: My life between two worlds Translated and edited by Roger Keesing. 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 Pacific