Jonga
p. 89 · Read in the full issue
A Brett Milder Profile
Poet Laureate of Jonga
Tu-ivakano is an elderly Tongan courtier full of old-world courtesy and charm. He has been Tonga’s chief songster for most of his long life.
He was born in 1893, and was called Kiu, and did not succeed to the noble title of Tu’ivakano until 1963. This title dates back to about 1800, during the hectic period of contact between Tonga and Fiji.
A Fijian chief named Tui Soso, of Lakemba, went to northern Tonga to deliver a large canoe, and the Tui Kanokupolu granted him some land at Nukunuka and also gave him his baby son to adopt.
This baby became the first Tu’ivakano, the “Vakano” part of the title being of Fijian origin.
The present Tu’ivakano still possesses the original grant of land among his estates.
His grandfather was Prime Minister of Tonga from 1912 to 1922.
The Fijian Tui Soso acted as matapule to the king in the ancient kava ceremony, in which the kava bowl is made from the hull of an old canoe, and the drinking cups are made from a banana leaf, shaped by heat into a cup, instead of the more modern belo made of a half coconut shell. This ceremony, called taumafakava, was used at the installation of Tonga’s present king in 1967.
The present Tu’ivakano first made his name in song in 1915, when his Hiva Kakala, or love song, won the laurel and was used by Prince Tungi (the present king’s father) to woo Princess Salote.
This song was successful, for Tungi married Salote in 1917, a year before she became queen.
Tu’ivakano used to accompany the Queen on her travels, and in 1967 he went with the present king and queen on their first visit to Haapai and Vavau after their coronation.
Tu’ivakano’s wife died in 1966, and he may be seen every day walking to visit her grave, which lies between his town house and the British Consulate on the waterfront at Nukualofa.
He has six children, one daughter and five sons, of whom the eldest is Siale Kaho (Charlie) aged 15 and at present at school in New Zealand. The daughter’s name is Fulipua’a Tonga. The four younger sons are Toloafe, Siutuu Hetonga, Sione Fonua and Fuatau.
At Queen Salote’s request Tu’ivakano wrote the closing theme for the Tongan Broadcast ing Station, This is called Hiva Faka Mavae or the Farewell
Song.-