Hundreds of members
from various churches and students from Catholic schools walked about two kilometres from the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua to the royal palace in Nukuʻalofa last Friday to present the fakatūʻuta to the King.
The presentation of pigs, mats, ngatu and yams to His Majesty King Tupou VI was one of cultural activities organised to mark the elevation of Cardinal Mafi to the cardinalate on February 14 in Rome.
According to tradition, the presentation was made before any other activities organised for the celebration.
The king attended the presentation, but we understand he was sitting on his seat by the door inside the palace.
His heralds were seen sitting in the verandah of the palace, facing Cardinal Mafi and his followers who were sitting outside at the front lawn, few meters away from the palace.
Cardinal Mafi, 53, was escorted by Former Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Sevele-‘O-Vailahi and some of the church leaders and heralds.
It was announced in February, before Cardinal Mafi’s elevation, that the Catholic church would celebrate the event after Lent and Holy Week, which ended on Easter Monday.
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Tongo, the herald who spoke on behalf of Cardinal Mafi to the king through his herald, Vakalahi, mentioned the “Lion at Mala’ekula Royal Tomb” a metaphor referring to King Tupou I, who first accepted Christianity into Tonga.
The heralds’ speeches on such occasion are poetically worded and use metaphors and figure of speech. They are intended to enhance the king’s prestige by comparing him to things such as a lion or a tower or the untouchable sky.
Tongo mentioned King Tupou I because of his acceptance of the Christianity into Tonga, a way of saying that without it there may have been no such presentation made last week.
Such poetical speech is also intended to show how much those presenting fakatū’uta value the significance of achievements such as those of Cardinal Mafi.
Their Majesties Queen Nanasipauʻu and King Tupou VI were in Rome while Cardinal Mafi was elevated, although only the queen attended the ceremony at the Vatican. However, Tongo expressed his excitement at the king’s presence in Rome, saying that although it was a coincidence, it was an honour for the church.
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Tongo then mentioned the “Tuku Fonua ki Langi” that was made in Pouono in 1875, the announcement by King George Tupou I that he was handing over Tonga to the protection of God and not any foreign countries. This led to the motto “God and Tonga are my inheritance.”
The royal herald, Vakalahi, acknowledged Tongo’s speech it was by calling on the person who counted the presentation to present a kava toho to Tongo. The presentation of the kava toho was a sign of acknowledgement by the king’s herald, but Tongo told the counter to return with the kava and give it to Vakalahi so he could keep it to present in future presentation at the Palace.
The fakatūʻuta was followed by a celebration at Apifo’ou College compound where a feast and Tongan dances were presented before Cardinal Mafi, their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.
Crown Prince Tupouto’a and Crown Princess Sinaitakala also attended, as well as Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and some of his ministers.
The celebration was concluded with a choral performance on Sunday night at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate in Ma’ufanga.
/Soane Niukapu Gallaher
), yams and other traditional gifts in order at the royal palace ‘s front lawn.
compound. Photo/ Soane Niukapu Gallaher
Immaculate in Ma’ufanga. Photo/Soane Niukapu GallaherThe main points
- Hundreds of people
from various churches and students from Catholic schools walked from the Basilica of St Anthony of Padua to the royal palace in Nukuʻalofa last Friday to present the fakatū’uta to the King. - The presentation of pigs, mats, ngatu and yams to His Majesty King Tupou VI was organised to mark the elevation of Cardinal Mafi to the cardinalate on February 14 in Rome.
- Cardinal Mafi was escorted by Former Prime Minister of Tonga, Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi and some of the church leaders and heralds.
- The fakatu’uta was followed by a celebration at Apifo’ou College compound where a feast and Tongan dances were presented before Cardinal Mafi, their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u.
About fakatūʻuta
The custom of fakatū’uta involves a presentation of pigs, mats, ngatu (tapa cloth), yams and other traditional gifts. The presentation must be counted by another herald, who shouts out how many pigs, yams and kava have been presented. The same thing can be done for mats and the ngatu, but instead one of the women announced their sizes and amounts to the king’s heralds.
The presenting herald must give a speech as part of the presentation, telling the receiving herald why they were presenting fakatū’uta.
The custom is the highest presentation that can be made to the king on such occasions. It can only be performed when something of great importance has happened, such as the elevation of Cardinal Mafi by the Pope. The palace office must be informed by the presentation organisers, seeking His Majesty’s approval and availability before the ceremony can be performed.
