Title: Village beauty became Queen of Tonga
Description: "Indigenous people of the South Pacific cannot ignore the voices of the past, which are some of the building blocks for our future generations. Many books have been written addressing various cultural issues in the pacific village context. However, there is still dire need to continue promoting indigenous voices from the past, for they point us to the cultural realities and relevance of our future. “Village beauty became Queen of Tonga and Other Stories” seeks to carry forth the torch of the indigenous past. Our cultural values and traditions must be promoted, conserved and practiced to ensure its survival in the modern hotbed of cultural fusions and counterfeit contemporary values. Discover a royal love story, of a kings betrothal to the village beauty, and the royal wedding ceremony service of antiquity that followed. Learn of the mystery that surrounds the origin of the Isalei Fijian folk song, which is sung passionately by every Tongan as a love song with a royal love story attributed to it. Experience the performance of the Queen Salote College Ma’ulu’ulu, a dance that was done for her Majesty Queen Salote Tupou before her Majesty passed away that year. Such stories empower future younger generations to uphold with pride their cultural heritage and identity." --Publisher description.
Subjects: Legends, Tales, Folklore
Places: Tonga