{{Short description|Chiefly village in Taveuni, Fiji}} thumb|300px|View of the house enclosing the grave of Rev. William Cross, and the principal heathen temple, at Somosomo, Feejee (IV, November 1847, p.120)<ref name=Offering1847>{{cite journal|title=View of the house enclosing the grave of Rev. William Cross, and the principal heathen temple, at Somosomo, Feejee|journal=Wesleyan Juvenile Offering|date=November 1847|volume=IV|page=120|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S1wEAAAAQAAJ|accessdate=17 November 2015}}</ref> {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Somosomo |native_name = |other_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = Village |motto = |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_map = VanuaLevu2021OSM.png |mapsize = |map_caption = Vanua Levu and Taveuni with Somosomo in Taveuni's northwest |pushpin_map = Fiji |pushpin_label_position = left |pushpin_mapsize = |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Fiji |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Fiji}} |subdivision_type1 = Island |subdivision_name1 = Taveuni |subdivision_type2 = Division |subdivision_name2 = Northern Division |subdivision_type3 = Province |subdivision_name3 = Cakaudrove |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = |established_date = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 = |population_as_of = |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = |population_density_km2 = |time_zone = |utc_offset = +12 |coordinates = {{Coord|-16.803226|-179.998455|type:city|display=title}} |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Somosomo''' ({{IPA|fj|somosomo}}) is a chiefly village in Taveuni, which is the island where the 180th meridian crosses on land in Fiji. Divided from Vanua Levu by Somosomo Strait, this island is part of the Cakaudrove Province and the holders of the title of ''Tui Cakau'',<ref>[http://wikimapia.org/1473361/Somosomo Somosomo]</ref> the Paramount Chief of the Tovata Confederacy, are historically and traditionally linked to this village.
The island was visited by the US Exploring Expedition in 1840.<ref name=Stanton>{{cite book|last1=Stanton|first1=William|title=The Great United States Exploring Expedition|date=1975|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=0520025571|pages=[https://archive.org/details/greatunitedstate00will/page/211 211]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/greatunitedstate00will/page/211}}</ref> In 1873, work commenced on a double-canoe called ''Ramarama'' at Somosomo, which was {{convert|99|ft|m|-1}} in length with a crew of 50 paddlers, although the vessel could carry an additional 200 warriors.<ref name="PIM41-4">{{cite web| last = | first = | work= XI(9) Pacific Islands Monthly |title= When Tonga Built Great Canoes |date =16 April 1941|url= https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-316047093/view?partId=nla.obj-316069614#page/n20/mode/1up| accessdate=28 September 2021}}</ref> Her steer oars were {{convert|34.|ft|m|-1}}.<ref name="PIM41-4"/> The builders included Manase Gauamo, an expert Tongan canoe maker, who worked for five years to complete ''Ramarama''.<ref name="PIM41-4"/> The double-canoe was built for the Tui Cakau, who later gave ''Ramarama'' to Seru Epenisa Cakobau. The double-canoe made three voyages to Tonga.<ref name="PIM41-4"/>
== Famous persons from Somosomo == Fiji's first President, Penaia Ganilau, was ''Tui Cakau'' and therefore a native of Somosomo.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ratu-sir-penaia-ganilau-1467936.html Obituary: ''Ratu'' Sir Penaia Ganilau]</ref>
Chief Komaibatiniwai was from the noble family of Somosomo.
Rugby league player Semi Radradra hails from the village.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Adrian Proszenko|title=Semi Radradra wants to emulate Sonny Bill Williams, says NRL star's former partner|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/semi-radradra-wants-to-emulate-sonny-bill-williams-says-nrl-stars-former-partner-20160625-gprqwa.html|accessdate=25 June 2016|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 June 2016}}</ref>
== Mythology == According to the myth, the god who ruled over this village is Qurai.<ref>''Myths and legends of Fiji and Rotuma''</ref> There is a short discussion of traditional religion as practiced on Somosomo in J. G. Frazer's famous work, The Golden Bough.<ref>Fraser, Golden Bough, Macmillan 1894, p. 39.</ref> Frazer describes belief in a continuity of divine nature between humans and deities, in which certain priests and chiefs were considered to be "sacred persons."
== Notes == {{Reflist}}
Category:Cakaudrove Province Category:Populated places in Fiji Category:Taveuni