Supa Mario
There is no official record of the names of the first settlers to the islands we now call and love, Tonga. But we do know that people did not just grow from trees. It is very likely that they arrive by ships.
It is uncertain when these settlers populate the Islands , how order was maintained and how things developed. By looking at our very own culture and tradition, we are given indications that our ancestors were somehow grouped into tribes.
There is a common question being asked these days when enquiring about a person: “Ko ‘ene ha’u meí he ha’a fē?” This literally translates as to “which tribe does he/she belongs to?”
It is common sense that as a tribe grew in numbers, so as its strengths. A tribal leader would guarantee, by whatever means available, the safety and security of the tribe. Various arrangements must have been made that includes men to be doing the heavy lifting tasks such as hunting, fishing and growing. Women would be at home taking care of the kids.
Women had no rights. There were no laws back then other than what the leader deemed so, as the “fono”. A family would be honored if one of their daughters are picked by the leader as one of his wives. It was necessary to keep within all the arrangements made within the tribe so as to be protected from other tribes.
As time passes from one generation into the next, descendants of these leaders became chiefs and what started off as arrangements became traditions. It is uncertain when and why exactly, but these chiefs became so cruel that they treat the rest of the tribe as slaves.
From that moment on, everyone was born into a culture of injustice.
One of the greatest political and social reform was done by Taufa’āhau. Accepting Christianity and soon afterwards the emancipation of the slaves by means of the Constitution (the rule of law).
While there were no more slavery, the nature of the hierarchical structure of King, Nobles and Commoners have placed the people (as Commoners) at a disadvantage.
The Nobles would own most of the land and only at their mercy would a commoner be so lucky to own a fraction of it. The most lucky ones were often the “matāpule”, a commoner chosen by the Noble to speak and sometimes act on his behalf.
The rest would stay in the land without owning it, thus owing the Noble himself. Following the traditions held by centuries of slavery, the best of their produce were harvested and given to the Noble as a display of gratitude.
Such traditions became a way of life passed from one generation to another.
Queen Salote Tupou III doubled down with what is now known as the “faa’i kaveikoula”. These are, for the lack of a better translation, 4 golden attributes that identify us as Tongans. Amongst which is famously known as “Tauhi Vā”.
“Tauhi Vā” is literally translated as maintaining space or distance between two people. Just to clarify, this isn’t social distancing but rather a hierarchical distance between and within the hierarchical structure. In other words, to keep the Commoners as Commoners, the Nobles as Nobles and the King as King.
The “faa’i kaveikoula” has kept and will continue to maintain the status quo. Hundreds and thousands would all be born into the same culture of injustice. It is as if this was by designed from the beginning to forever keep a minority of elite superiors to a majority of inferior.
In any case, we are in dire need of an upgrade to our culture.
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