Where did the Tongan people originally come from?
Where did the Tongan people originally come from?
They are thought to have originated in Taiwan via the Bismarck Archipelago (in Eastern New Guinea) then later moving through the Western Pacific, Melanesian Islands in one mass migration. It is generally accepted that the Lapita are the common ancestors of the Polynesian people.
Who were the first settlers in Tonga?
While excavating, researchers found a coral file artifact from within the beach. (Image credit: David Burley.) The first Polynesian settlers sailed to Tonga between 2,830 and 2,846 years ago, according to new research.
Who first discovered Tonga?
The first Europeans arrived in 1616, when the Dutch explorers Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire spotted Tongans in a canoe off the coast of Niuatoputapu, and the famous Abel Tasman followed soon after.
How old are Tongan people?
3000 years
The Kingdom of Tonga’s history stretches back over 3000 years, beginning with the migration of the Lapita people from the mainland and islands of Southeast Asia. Tongan culture and customs began with these earliest of Polynesians, and many ancient traditions have continued respectfully through to the present day.
What race is Tongan?
Polynesian
Tongans, who are ethnically Polynesian with a mixture of Melanesian, account for over 98% of the inhabitants of the country. 1.5% are mixed Tongans, while the rest are European, particularly British, mixed European or other Pacific Islander.
What is a Tongan FAHU?
Within a family, the highest status actually belongs to the Fahu, which is the father’s oldest sister. Those of high status may receive the best foods, housing, clothing and opportunities, but they would also reciprocate by extending generous support to all their family members.
What was the history of the Kingdom of Tonga?
History of Tonga. The history of Tonga is recorded since the century after 900 BC, when seafarers associated with the Lapita diaspora first settled the islands which now make up the Kingdom of Tonga. Along with Fiji and Samoa, the area served as a gateway into the rest of the Pacific region known as Polynesia.
Why was Tu’i Tonga important to the Tongan people?
He was the son of a human female and the god Tangaloa. Human and divine at the same time, the Tu’i Tonga was the embodiment of the Tongan people, and this is still a powerful metaphor. Tongans were fierce warriors and skilled navigators whose outrigger canoes could carry up to two hundred people.
When did the Tongan Civil War start and end?
1789 British Captain William Bligh of “Mutiny of the Bounty” fame floats in rowboat to Tofua. 1790 Civil war breaks out and continues through the 1820s. 1793 French Captains D’Entrecasteaux and Labillardiere come to Tonga searching for Captain La Perouse who dissappeared in 1788 after arriving in Australia.
What kind of language is the Tongan language?
Linguistic Affiliation. Tongan is an Austronesian language of the Oceanic subgroup. It belongs to the Western Polynesian languages, specifically the Tongic group. There are three social dialects: one for talking to the king, one for chiefs and nobles, and one for the common people.