# List of political families in Fiji

The following is a list of political families in Fiji.

## List

NOTE: Most of Fiji's political families listed below are, in fact, related by ancestry or by marriage. The Nailatikau family is a subset of the Cakobau family; both are connected by marriage - as well as by ancestral ties - with the Mara and Ganilau families. Tracing family relationships in Fiji is complicated by the fact that many prominent Fijians do not use family names).
The Bavadra Family (husband-wife)
* Timoci Bavadra - Prime Minister of Fiji (1987)
* Adi Kuini Speed (widow of Timoci Bavadra; Cabinet Minister (1999-2000)
Descendants of Seru Epenisa Cakobau Cakobau was the Fijian monarch who unified the nation in 1871, and ceded it to Britain in 1874. Many twentieth-century politicians are direct descendants of his.
* Great-grandchildren:
** Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau - Military commander, Deputy Prime Minister (1970s).
** Ratu Sir George Cakobau - Governor-General of Fiji (1973-1983)
** Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (founding father; Prime Minister 1967-1992; President 1993-2000).
** Ro Lady Lala Mara (2nd cousin and wife of Ratu Sir Kamisese; co-founder of the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei); maternal great-granddaughter.
** Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna (1888-1958 - Fiji's first modern statesman. Soldier, scholar, statesman; Paramount Chief; first indigenous Fijian Speaker of Fiji's Legislative Council (1950s). Maternal great-grandson.
** Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa (née Tuisaiwau) (maternal great-granddaughter; sister of Ro Lady Lala Mara) - Minister of Education (2001-2006); Member of Parliament and leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (2014–present).
* Great-great-grandchildren
** Ratu Epeli Nailatikau (soldier, diplomat, President of Fiji (2009 — present); previously Deputy Prime Minister (2000-2001), Speaker of the House of Representatives (2001-2006); Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007 - 2008); son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau
** Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto - son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau (q.v.), brother of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau (q.v.); Cabinet Minister (2000 - 2001).
** Ratu Alifereti Finau Mara (son of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (q.v.); soldier, leader of the Fijian Association Party and cabinet minister (1990s); Fijian Ambassador to the United Nations).
** Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau (daughter of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara (q.v.) and wife of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau; diplomat, cabinet minister (1999-2000), and Senator (2001-2006)
** Ratu George Cakobau - Senator (2001-2006); son of Ratu Sir George Cakobau (q.v.)
** Adi Litia Cakobau - Senator (2001-2006) and former Cabinet Minister; daughter of Ratu Sir George Cakobau (q.v.)
** Adi Samanunu Cakobau-Talakuli - Senator and Cabinet Minister (2006–present) and former High Commissioner to Malaysia; daughter of Ratu Sir George Cakobau (q.v.)
* Great-great-great grandchildren
** Adi Kuini Speed; widow of Timoci Bavadra (q.v.); Cabinet Minister (1999-2000) (also listed under Bavadra family)
* Sixth-generation descendants
** Roko Tupou Draunidalo; daughter of Adi Kuini Speed (q.v.); Member of Parliament and President of the National Federation Party.
The Ganilau Family
* Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau - first President of Fiji (1987-1992); maternal great-grandson of Seru Epenisa Cakobau.
** Ratu Epeli Ganilau - son of Ratu Sir Penaia; husband of Adi Ateca Mara (daughter of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara); soldier, co-founder of the Christian Democratic Alliance (1998), Chairman, Great Council of Chiefs (2001-2004), founder of the National Alliance Party (2005).
** Bernadette Rounds Ganilau - wife of Ratu Rabici Ganilau (son of Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau); United Peoples Party parliamentarian (2006).
The Khaiyum Family (son - father - father-in-law)
* Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum - Attorney General
* Sayed Abdul Khaiyum - Member of Parliament
* Viliame Gavoka - Member of Parliament
The Patel Family 1 (brothers)
* A. D. Patel - founder of the National Federation Party
* R. D. Patel - Speaker of the House of Representatives
The Patel Family 2 (brothers)
* Navin Patel - Member of House of Representatives 1977 - 1987
* Vinod Patel - Member of House of Representatives 1994 - 1999
The Speight Family (father-sons)
* Sam Speight - Cabinet Minister (1990s)
* George Speight - coup leader
* Samisoni Tikoinasau - Member of Parliament
The Singh Family 1 (brothers-son)
* Parmanand Singh - Younger brother - one of the first Indo-Fijian members of the Legislative Council
* Chattur Singh - Elder brother - member of Legislative Council
** Anand Singh - Parmanand's son - member of House of Representatives and Senate
The Singh Family 2 (half-brothers - nephew)
* James Shankar Singh - elder half-brother of Uday - Alliance Minister, later joined the National Federation Party
* Uday Singh - younger half-brother of James - Alliance Party, one term member of Parliament
** Vijay R. Singh- Nephew of the brothers - Alliance Minister, later joined the National Federation Party
The Lakshman Family (father - son - grandson)
* B. D. Lakshman -Member of Legislative Council 1940-1944 and 1959-1963
** Prince Gopal Lakshman - son of B.D. Lakshman - Member of House of Representatives 1999-2006
*** Chaitanya Lakshman - grandson of B D Lakshman - Member of House of Representatives in 2006 and member of multi-party cabinet
The Maharaj Family (father - son)
* James Ramchandar Maharaj - Member of Legislative Council of Fiji in 1929.
** Navin Maharaj son of James Ramchandar Maharaj - Member of House of Representatives 1987
The Madhavan Family (father - son)
* James Madhavan - member of the Legislative Council of Fiji from 1947 to 1972
** Shiromaniam Madhavan - son of James was member of the House of Representatives of Fiji from 1992 to 1994.