The Tongan People
Kingdom of the Pacific - Guardians of Polynesian Monarchy - Masters of Ocean Navigation
Who Are the Tongans?
Tongans are the indigenous Polynesian people of the Kingdom of Tonga. Tonga is unique as the only remaining indigenous monarchy in Polynesia and one of the few Pacific nations never formally colonized. Tongans are renowned for their strong cultural identity, royal traditions, seafaring heritage, and the centrality of family and Christian faith.
~100KIn Tonga
TonganLanguage (Polynesian)
169Islands
MonarchyGovernment
Rugby Powerhouse: Tonga is home to some of the world's largest rugby players - many top rugby stars are of Tongan descent, and rugby is deeply intertwined with Tongan identity and masculinity!
Image Gallery
Traditional Tongan kava ceremony with formal protocols
Tongan ngatu (tapa cloth) with intricate geometric patterns
Kava ceremony honoring royal and chiefly hierarchy
Women creating traditional ngatu with geometric designs
Traditional protocols in Tongan ceremonial gathering
Intricate patterns on ceremonial tapa cloth
Academic References & Further Reading
1.Campbell, I. C. (2015). Island Kingdom: Tonga Ancient and Modern. Canterbury University Press.
2.Marcus, G. E. (1980). The Nobility and the Chiefly Tradition in the Modern Kingdom of Tonga. Polynesian Society.
3.Bott, E. (1982). Tongan Society at the Time of Captain Cook's Visits. Polynesian Society.
4.Gifford, E. W. (1929). Tongan Society. Bernice P. Bishop Museum.
5.Kaeppler, A. L. (1993). Poetry in Motion: Studies of Tongan Dance. Institute for Polynesian Studies.
6.Wood-Ellem, E. (1999). Queen Salote of Tonga: The Story of an Era 1900-1965. Auckland University Press.
7.Cowling, W. E. (1990). On Being Tongan. Pacific Studies, 13(2), 1-35.
8.Lātūkefu, S. (1974). Church and State in Tonga. Australian National University Press.
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