Culture of Wallis and Futuna

Last updated

Dancers in Wallis during the Assumption religious fest (August 15). Wallis fete de l'Assomption.jpg
Dancers in Wallis during the Assumption religious fest (August 15).

Wallis and Futuna , an overseas territory of France in Oceania, has a rich Polynesian culture that is very similar to the cultures of its neighbouring nations Samoa and Tonga. The Wallisian and Futunan cultures share very similar components in language, dance, cuisine and modes of celebration.

Contents

Fishing and agriculture are the traditional practices and most people live in traditional fate houses in an oval shape made of thatch. [1] Kava, as with many Polynesian islands, is a popular beverage brewed in the two islands, and is a traditional offering in rituals. [1] Highly detailed tapa cloth art is a specialty of Wallis and Futuna. [2]

Language and religion

The native languages spoken daily by the islanders are Wallisian (also called ʻUvea) and Futunan, two closely related languages which trace their roots to Samoic origin. Despite this, the official language (because of its administrative purposes), the de jure language is French (with the population of each island preferring to talk in their own native tongue). [3] Oral traditions include the Tongan presence on Uvea and the Chant of Lausikula. [4]

Most of the people are Roman Catholic; [5] the law of Wallis and Futuna is partially based on Catholic morals. [6] The Patron Saint of the Islands, Pierre Chanel was the first missionary who came to the island in 1837. [1]

Art

A tapa showing the map of Futuna. Futuna tapas.jpg
A tapa showing the map of Futuna.

Tapa is a popular art form which is made from the "base" of the bark of the mulberry and breadfruit trees. The pounded bark is painted with vegetable colours and with attractive designs. It provides employment to about 300 people in almost every village, and from which many families have been economically benefited in the two islands. This art form is in great demand in the Pacific, in the Noumea and Tahiti. Another art form is making of mats and necklaces with straw and shells. Efforts to further promote this vocation to export goods beyond the islands to Europe and France has faced problems of high transportation costs. [1]

Music

The music of Wallis and Futuna is mainly Polynesian. Idiophones and aerophones are used exclusively; examples of these include slit-gongs (lali), stamping tubes, sticks, rolled mats (fala), sounding boards (lolongo papa), body percussion, Jew's harps (utete), flutes, shell trumpets, and leaf oboes. [7]

Festivals and dance

Roasted pigs of Wallis and Futuna on St. Chanel Day Roasted pigs.jpg
Roasted pigs of Wallis and Futuna on St. Chanel Day
Dancers from Wallis and Futuna performing the 'Plantation' Wallis et futuna folklore.jpg
Dancers from Wallis and Futuna performing the 'Plantation'

Numerous festivals are celebrated in Wallis and Futuna throughout the year; on St Chanel Day, pigs are roasted and placed in the sun, and dancing performances are held. The Wallis and Futuna Festival is put on in Noumea annually. [8] Flae fones are community feasting and meeting structures. [9]

The people of Wallis and Futuna are stated to be "excellent dancers". [10] There are at least 16 types of dances (faive), their differences based upon location, occasion, number of dancers, gender, accompanying instruments, and other modifiers. Most dances are accompanied by singing and some type of percussion instruments as dancing without drumming is considered unusual. The kailao (paddle-club dance), however, has no song and only includes percussion. [11] Wallis and Futuna dancers perform across the Oceania region at festivals. [12]

Uvea Museum Association holds the first 16mm colour film of dance on Wallis in its collections, which was recorded in 1943. [13]

Food and beverage

Kava is the indigenous Polynesian beverage which is customarily served in all religious rituals. Kava is brewed in a wooden vessel known as a tana, a multilegged bowl which is also an art form carved in wood, that is much in demand. [1] Australian beer is also popular. Diet includes chicken, coconuts, figs, mangoes, pandanus, pork, and wild cherry.

Tourism

There is not much tourism in the two islands. The natural heritage of the territory is largely preserved; there are not many recreational sites in Wallis and Futuna. Some of the cultural heritages that attract tourists are the grave of Saint Pierre Chanel who was canonized in 1954 and other natural attractions of lakes, lagoons and beaches, and sports activities such as golfing (6 hole course in Wallis), diving and flying. [1] Uvea Museum Association is a military museum dedicated to preserving the history of the Second World War in the territory. [13]

Traditional monarchies and their role

Wallis and Futuna is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic. The collectivity is made up of three traditional kingdoms: ʻUvea, on the island of Wallis, Sigave, on the western part of the island of Futuna, and Alo, on the island of Alofi and on the eastern part of the island of Futuna. The current King of Uvea is Kapiliele Faupala and the current King of Sigave is Visesio Moeliku. They have reigned since 2008 and 2004, respectively. The king of Alo is Petelo Sea who is crowned in 2014. The three Kings are part of the government of the overseas collectivity.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallis and Futuna</span> Overseas collectivity of France

Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, and Tokelau to the northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polynesian languages</span> Language family

The Polynesian languages form a genealogical group of languages, itself part of the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Wallis and Futuna</span>

The official flag of Wallis and Futuna is the French national flag, as it is a French territory. Wallis and Futuna has a locally used unofficial flag which bears the French flag in the canton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Futuna (Wallis and Futuna)</span> Island in the Hoorn island group

Futuna is the largest island in Hoorn Islands or Îles Horne, located in the Pacific Ocean, part of the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna. The island occupies an area of 80 km2 (30 sq mi) and as of 2018 it has a population of 10,912.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Wallis and Futuna</span> Political system of Wallis and Futuna

Politics of Wallis and Futuna takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity, whereby the President of the Territorial Assembly is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallis (island)</span> Island in Wallis and Futuna

Wallis is a Polynesian atoll/island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna. It lies north of Tonga, northeast of Fiji, east-northeast of the Hoorn Islands, east of Fiji's Rotuma, southeast of Tuvalu, southwest of Tokelau and west of Samoa. Its area is almost 100 km2 (39 sq mi) with 8,333 people. Its capital is Mata Utu. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion. Its highest point is Mount Lulu Fakahega. Wallis is of volcanic origin with fertile soil and some remaining lakes. Rainfall is plentiful.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mata Utu</span> Place in Wallis and Futuna, France

Mata Utu is the capital city of Wallis and Futuna, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located on the island of Uvéa (ʻUvea), in the district of Hahake, of which it is also the capital. It is one of two ports in Wallis and Futuna, the other being at Leava on Futuna. Hihifo Airport, the main airport serving the island and city, is 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) to the northwest. Its population was 1,029 in 2018, up from 815 in 1998.

The galleries below show flags attributed to the eighteen regions, five overseas collectivities, one sui generis collectivity and one overseas territory of France. Most of them are both non-official and traditional as regions often use their logos as a flag though some regions used the banner ol flags.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna</span>

The Territorial Assembly of Wallis and Futuna is the legislature of Wallis and Futuna. It consists of 20 members, elected for a five-year term by proportional representation in multi-seat constituencies. The Assembly sits in Mata Utu, the capital of the territory.

Tu'i, also spelled more simplistically Tui, is a Polynesian traditional title for tribal chiefs or princes. In translations, the highest such positions are often rendered as "king". For details, see the links below various polities. Traditionally, a Tui is an equivalent of God title. Origin of Tui is believed to be Tui Manu'a.

Wallisian, or ʻUvean, is the Polynesian language spoken on Wallis Island. The language is also known as East Uvean to distinguish it from the related West Uvean language spoken on the outlier island of Ouvéa near New Caledonia. The latter island was colonised from Wallis Island in the 18th century.

Futunan or Futunian is the Polynesian language spoken on Futuna. The term East-Futunan is also used to distinguish it from the related West Futunan (Futuna-Aniwan) spoken on the outlier islands of Futuna and Aniwa in Vanuatu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Wallis and Futuna</span> Overview of and topical guide to Wallis and Futuna

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Wallis and Futuna:

Kapeliele "Gabriel" Faupala was the 51st Lavelua (King) of Wallis Island (Uvea), one of the three traditional kingdoms which comprise the French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna. Faupala was officially crowned Lavelua on July 25, 2008, succeeding Tomasi Kulimoetoke II, who died in May 2007. He was removed from office in September 2014.

Petelo Vikena was Tuigaifo, or Monarch, of the Kingdom of Alo, which is also known as the Kingdom of Futuna from his coronation on November 6, 2008 to his abdication on January 22, 2010. Alo is one of the three traditional kingdoms, or chiefdoms, which comprise Wallis and Futuna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uvea (Wallis and Futuna)</span> Chiefdom in Wallis and Futuna, France

ʻUvea is one of the three official chiefdoms of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean.

Susitino Sionepoe, S.M. is a Futunan Catholic prelate and the current Bishop of Wallis et Futuna. He was consecrated on March 24, 2019, by Archbishop Michel-Marie-Bernard Calvet in Mata'Utu, the Capital of Wallis and Futuna. His appointment as bishop was the result of the resignation of the previous bishop on 24 December 2018. He is a member of the Marists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katoaga</span> French traditional celebration

The kātoaga is a customary festival in Wallis and Futuna, a French overseas collectivity in Oceania with a Polynesian culture. During this ceremony, goods are exchanged, such as pigs, baskets of vegetables, banigs, tapa or envelopes filled with banknotes. It takes place on the occasion of religious festivals, political events or private events. Of ancient origin and present in many Polynesian societies, the katoaga obeys a strict ritual and protocol that has changed little since the Christianization of Wallis and Futuna in the 19th century. It begins with a Catholic mass, is followed by a meal, a kava ceremony and dances performed by the villagers, before the food brought by the inhabitants is redistributed to the dignitaries and the population, each gift being allocated according to the rank of the person for whom it is intended. Speeches, poems and stories from the oral tradition are recited by the participating dignitaries. These major customary celebrations mobilize several villages or districts, and require several weeks or even months of preparation.

The Second World War in Wallis and Futuna was a period of significant upheaval for this French protectorate territory in the Pacific.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wallis & Futuna Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws. Int'l Business Publications. 1 January 2012. pp. 37–. ISBN   978-1-4387-7141-0.
  2. ↑ Hinz, Earl R.; Howard, Jim (2006). Landfalls of Paradise: Cruising Guide to the Pacific Islands. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 220–. ISBN   978-0-8248-3037-3.
  3. ↑ "Wallis and Futuna: Culture".
  4. ↑ Blench, Roger; Spriggs, Matthew (15 April 1999). Archaeology and Language III: Artefacts, Languages and Texts. Taylor & Francis. pp. 333–. ISBN   978-0-203-20290-6.
  5. ↑ Jensen, Lars (2008). A Historical Companion to Postcolonial Literatures: Continental Europe and Its Empires. Edinburgh University Press. p. 140. ISBN   9780748623945.
  6. ↑ Aldrich, Robert; Connell, John (2006). France's Overseas Frontier. Cambridge University Press. p. 180. ISBN   9780521030366.
  7. ↑ McLean, p. 219
  8. ↑ Beran, Harry; Arthur, Tom; Chrisp, Rebecca (1998). Oceanic and Indonesian art: collector's choice : an exhibition of 102 works from 90 private Australian collections at Nomadic Rug Trader, Sydney, 18 July to 14 August 1998. Oceanic Art Society in association with Crawford House. p. 68. ISBN   978-1-86333-162-3 . Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Price, Theron Douglas; Feinman, Gary M. (2010). Pathways to Power: Archaeological Perspectives on Inequality, Dominance, and Explanation. Springer. pp. 122–. ISBN   978-1-4419-6300-0.
  10. ↑ Ridgell, Reilly (1995). Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia (3 ed.). Bess Press. p. 153. ISBN   9781573060011.
  11. ↑ McLean, Mervyn (1999). Weavers of Songs: Polynesian Music and Dance. Auckland University Press. pp. 223–. ISBN   978-1-86940-212-9.
  12. ↑ Dils, Ann; Albright, Ann Cooper (19 October 2001). Moving History/Dancing Cultures: A Dance History Reader. Wesleyan University Press. p. 370. ISBN   978-0-8195-6413-9 . Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  13. 1 2 Mayer, Raymond; Nau, Malino; Pambrun, Eric; Laurent, Christophe (2006). "Chanter la guerre à Wallis ('Uvea)". Journal de la Société des Océanistes (in French) (122–123): 153–171. doi: 10.4000/jso.614 .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.