In the past couple of days, Tonga celebrated the 150th anniversary of our Constitution, a sesquicentennial milestone that spans generations of Tongans since its inception in 1875. Although our students were unable to take part in the national celebrations due to final exams this week, we join our people in commemorating this special occasion with a traditional performance, a Tau’olunga from our USPSA Tonga Dance group to the classic and renowned ta’anga “Hala Kuo Papa,” composed by Her late Maje

The Tongan Tau’olunga, influenced by the Samoan taualuga and the ancient ‘ula’ dance, became a key part of Tongan culture, particularly among the aristocracy. The ‘ula’ was a group dance for chiefly daughters, but with the introduction of the Samoan taualuga in the 19th century, it became institutionalized within the Tu’i Kanokupolu lineages. In the 1950s, Queen Salote enhanced the tau’olunga, incorporating wrist flourishes and lakalaka leg transitions, shaping the modern version we see today. F

A ride through history: Sopore’s iconic tonga culture lives on. | Faizan Mir

Tūtūpakanava: Royal torch lighting ceremony to end of the celebrations of 150 years of the Tongan Constitution! #tonga #history #culture #kingdomoftonga | Tahi Tonga