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Ro Adi Lady Lala Mara ( January 4 1931July 20 2004) was a Fijian chief, who was better known as the widow of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, modern Fiji's founding father who served for many years as Prime Minister and President of his country. As Fiji's first lady, Adi Lala took on a diplomatic role, frequently representing her country abroad. She was regarded as a formidable and astute woman, whose influence on her husband was said to be considerable.

Lalabalavu Litia Katoafutoga was born on 4 January 1931. From her father, she inherited the title of Roko Tui Dreketi , the traditional title of the rulers of the Burebasaga confederacy, which covers the provinces of Rewa, Nadroga , Seru , Kadavu Island (off the coast of Suva, and parts of Ba and Ra . The village of Lomanikoro in Rewa Province is the capital of the confederacy. Adi Lala's marriage, on 9 September 1950, to Ratu Mara, who was to become the Tui Lau and Tui Nayau (the traditional ruler of Nayau and the Lau Islands ) was considered a dynastic marriage, as it united two powerful feudal families. Relations between the families had been strained in the past, so the marriage was opposed in certain quarters, especially on Ratu Mara's side. Nevertheless, the marriage was by all accounts a happy one and lasted 54 years, until Ratu Mara's death on 18 April, 2004. The duration of this marriage was in stark contrast to the prevalence of divorce in much of the Mara clan . Three sons and five daughters issued from their marriage, two of whom have pursued political careers of their own. Their eldest son, Ratu Finau Mara , served as a member of the House of RepresentativesOverview The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation (the Senate, by contrast, can amend or veto most legislation, but cannot initiate and of the CabinetFiji has the Westminster system executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: t throughout the 1990sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 2030s 2040s Years: Events and trends Computers, technology Explosive growth of the Internet; decrease in the cost of computers and other techn, and led the Fijian Association Party from 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan to 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting. Their second daughter, Adi Koila Mara NailatikauAdi Koila Mara Nailatikau is a Fijian lawyer, who has served as a career diplomat and politician. Vasemaca Koila Josephine Mara was born in 1953, the daughter of the Fijian statesman Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara ( 1920- 2004) and Adi Lady Lala Mara ( 1931- 2004, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and was Minister of Tourism in 1999 and 2000. She has been a Senator since 2001.

In 1991, Adi Lala founded the Fijian Political Party (Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei, or SVT) as the successor to the disbanded Alliance Party that her husband had founded and led, but for the leadership she was outmanoevered by Sitiveni Rabuka, who had led the Fiji coups of 1987. To the end of her life, Adi Lala remained active in the Great Council of Chiefs, where she was regarded as a voice of moderation.

Adi Lala's death, only three months after that of her husband, was announced in Suva on July 20, 2004. No immediate cause of death was given.

Mara, Adi Lady Lala Mara, Adi Lady Lala Mara, Adi Lady Lala Mara, Adi Lady Lala

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