LEA FAKA-TONGA
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Fakafe'ilo'aki/Introduction to Lea Faka-Tonga
Fakafe'ilo'aki/Introduction to Lea Faka-Tonga
Lea faka-Tonga is an Austronesian language of the Polynesian branch spoken in Tonga. It has around 187,000 speakers and is the national language of Tonga.
Lea Faka-Tonga is offered in Year 10, 11, 12 &13. The purpose is to learn the language through and about Tongan history, culture, music and dance. However, each year level must always start with learning the basics of the language.
See below for more information about Tonga and its people.
Three aspects of learning the Tongan language:
• Learning lea faka-Tonga – developing the skills to communicate in the Tongan language.
• Learning through lea faka-Tonga – using the Tongan language as a medium of communication.
• Learning about lea faka-Tonga – developing knowledge of grammar and other aspects of the Tongan language and culture.
Tonga, officially named the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country, and also an archipelago comprising 169 islands, of which 36 are inhabited.
Tonga stretches across the north–south line. It is surrounded by:
Fiji and Wallis and Futuna NW
Samoa NE
New Caledonia and Vanuatu W
Niue (the nearest foreign territory) E
Kermadec (New Zealand) SW
As of January 2023, Tonga's total population was 107.3 thousand.
From 1900 to 1970, Tonga had British protected-state status. The United Kingdom looked after Tonga’s foreign affairs under a Treaty of Friendship. But Tonga never relinquished its sovereignty to any foreign power. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step away from its traditional absolute monarchy and towards becoming a fully functioning constitutional monarchy, after legislative reforms paved the way for its first partial representative elections.
Ha'ele ki Pilitania
Ha'ele ki Pilitania
This song was composed by Penitutuʻila to depict the late Kuini Sālote Tupou III’s visit to the British coronation in 1953. Queen Sālote stole the show when she ignored the rain and travelled with the top of her carriage down so she could smile and wave to the crowds. This visit put Tonga on the international stage displaying the fa kave'i koula:
This song was composed by Penitutuʻila to depict the late Kuini Sālote Tupou III’s visit to the British coronation in 1953. Queen Sālote stole the show when she ignored the rain and travelled with the top of her carriage down so she could smile and wave to the crowds. This visit put Tonga on the international stage displaying the fa kave'i koula:
FAKA'APA'APA (respect)
TAUHI VA (maintaining relationships)
LOTO TO (humility)
MAMAHI'I ME'A (loyalty)
Ta koe Sola
Ta koe Sola
King Tupou IV lifted Tonga to the top of the Pacific, as reflected in the Hala Touliki song: "Ta koe sola ki Selusalema ki he BA LLB, Hiki e fonua ki he tumutumu 'o e Pasifiki." First Tongan & ever Pacific islander university graduate with a BA/LLB. In education, Tonga currently holds the most number of PhDs and graduates per capita than in any other country in the world. Tonga, as of today, has the highest UN Human Development Index ranking among the Pacific Islands.
King Tupou IV lifted Tonga to the top of the Pacific, as reflected in the Hala Touliki song: "Ta koe sola ki Selusalema ki he BA LLB, Hiki e fonua ki he tumutumu 'o e Pasifiki." First Tongan & ever Pacific islander university graduate with a BA/LLB. In education, Tonga currently holds the most number of PhDs and graduates per capita than in any other country in the world. Tonga, as of today, has the highest UN Human Development Index ranking among the Pacific Islands.
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