Biographical entry: Kuper, Augusta Kafagamurironga (1890 - 1970)

Born: 1890
Died: April 1970

Details

Augusta Kuper Kafagamurironga was known as 'Kanana' (mother). She was born about 1890, daughter of paramount chief Page Page from Santa Ana. It was to him that the British gave the Union Jack in 1897 when the Protectorate was proclaimed on the island. She married Henry Kuper (q.v.). Augusta Kuper always maintained and cultivated Santa Ana and Santa Catalina custom, and encouraged the people to maintain their traditional dances after the Melanesian Mission (q.v.) arrived in the area. Colin Allan met her in 1956 and described her as 'enormously fat, elderly, distinguished, dignified'. (1990, pt. 2, 128) She died in April 1970, survived by her daughter and three sons. One son, Geoff Kuper, was one of the first Fiji-trained Solomon Islands Native Medical Practitioners. (NS 30 Apr. 1970)

Related Corporate Bodies

Melanesian Mission

Related People

Kuper, Heinrich (1888 - 1958)

Published resources

Journals

British Solomon Islands Protectorate (ed.), British Solomon Islands Protectorate News Sheet (NS), 1955-1975. Details