Dakuwaqa : The Shark God

Dakuwaqa

Introduction

In Fijian mythology, the deity of the sea known as Dakuwaqa is regarded as a shark-god. He was very popular with the fishermen because he would protect them from sharks and other dangerous creatures at sea. When Dakuwaqa was going to Kadavu Island to conquer it, he was attacked by an octopus. After a great battle, the octopus managed to pull out its teeth and restraining him with its 8 arms to prevent the massive attack by the demon.

He was a helper during sea disasters but  was also a killer. Today, many parts of Fiji claim to have remnants of his former home and that he once lived among them. The village of Rukua in Beqa for instance has a cave where Dakuwaqa once lived with his two daughters.

Physical Traits

He is often described as a muscular man with an upper torso that’s usually associated with a great white shark but he can also alter his appearance due to his abilities of shape shifting. According to other legends, he can grow to 60 feet long and has the head and tail of a whale with a brown spotted or mottled back.

Family

According to some legends, before he became known as Dakuwaqa, he was the leader of the village’s gonedau or fishermen’s clan and was referred to as Cakaubalavu. During fishing trips, the clan prepared a special dessert known as qalu, which was made from banana leaves and coconut milk syrup. This was part of the ritual performed when fishermen go out to sea.

After returning, Cakaubalavu and his companions learned that the qalu that they prepared had been eaten. He then went into a fit of rage and turned into a shark after diving into the sea and overturning thrice. He vowed to leave Beqa with his fellow fisherman in order to look for other land and became the god that we know of today.

According to some legends, his mother suffered a miscarriage during a fishing trip in the river near Navani. Her unborn child floated downstream to the Buca River and unlike a human foetus, it grew into an adult. On its way out to sea, Dakuwaqa’s foetus attached to a floating log of the evergreen buabua tree which drifted down the Buca River and reached Kioa Island.

During the time when the Somosomo warriors were attacking various tribes in Fiji, they would often stop at Kioa to enjoy the sunny weather. When the tide started to turn, they decided to leave and used a log that they found on the beach to launch their boats back to the sea. When the buabua trunk touched the water, it quickly changed into the shark today called Dakuwaqa.

Other Names

The word Dakuwaqa comes from two words meaning back (daku) and boat or canoe (waqa), inferring that on the back of the buabua tree, the men from Somosomo were able to launch their canoes.

Powers and Abilities

Dakuwaqa has many stories that lay out his strength, speed and dexterity. When you add his ferocious nature to the mix and also his inherent aggressiveness, you have a formidable foe who has very few other equals in the pantheon.

Apart from these skills, he is primarily known as a shape shifter who can morph into any living creature and exhibit their characteristics with extreme ease. This includes taking the form of humans and living on land.

Dakuwaqa is also known to protect all seafarers and the islands where he is regarded as the primary deity.

Modern Day Influence

Although quite popular in modern retelling of ancient tales from Fijian mythology, Dakuwaqa is also popular in TV shows, video games and movies. In the DC comics universe, Dakuwaqa is the father of the character King Shark who was recently featured in the 2nd instalment of the Suicide Squad franchise. Dakuwaqa has also featured as a pet in the Harry Potter universe.