Well the lakalaka is Tongan, the reason why the Lau province from Fiji perform the dance is because most of us are part Tongan.... so most of our traditions we still carry on with because they were bought over by our Tongan ancestors. It's not that we're tryna bite another cultures dance! We're proud of our Fijian/Tongan heritage.
Long before Maafu Tu'iLau ...dating back to first settlement we were the same people...and we still are.... its documented Taufaahau Tupou I, Maafu TuiLau, Tungi Halatuituia ...acknowledged that TuiNayau and the people of Lau are one and the same people since days of old..... OfaAtu my Lau family❤
tongans are also very proud of the connnections they have with fiji! I think tongan and fijian features are alot simillar than tongans and samoans. One day I wish to visit the Lau groups, can't wait :)
I agree with Thomas.Mataloa , Lau is not the only province in Fiji with links to Tonga , Today when you go to Suva , you'll witness pure Fijian Kids who look as if they are half Tongan , some with Tongan built but dark skin and when you ask them where they are from , some are from Rewa , Lomaiviti , Vanua Levu , Nadroga....and Lau . This might have been a result of intermarriages from way back in the days!!!
A lot of Tongan princesses who were regarded higher than any Tongans were send to Fiji to get married there and I think they might also take some people with them too
The lauan people have a mixed Fijian/Tongan heritage and they are known as Lautonga by most people of Fiji. Beautiful to hear the Lauan people singing/performing tongan chants/dances. Also there used to be a tongan fort on Viti Levu and the people from that area claim Tongan heritage. Bauan Chiefs have close kinship with the Tongan royal families & whenever the Tongan royals have a formal engagement there must be a Fijian warrior guard present to escort as at the late King Taufa ahau funeral.
These men and women are from the chiefly village of Tubou and this footage is part of a film called "The Two Men of Fiji". Tubou and Lakeba as a whole has deep cultural and blood relationship with the Kingdom of Tonga. This particular lakalaka was especially prepared and given as a gift by the King of Tonga to the late Tui Nayau (Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba). Note that Lau was never a part of Tonga - just related.
I hate to disagree brother,have a look at the history.Lau belong to Fiji and so it should be.Ma'afu invaded The Lau group and tried the mainland but failed.He retrieve back to Lau group and he declared ruler of the Lau group and regarded it a pard of Tonga!The British government convince the king that it should be given back to Fiji,and he humbly did and declared it!Anyway that is the past in the darker days malo of a atu
@@kamamotumotu3357 indeed he was by the Help of his half brother Tui Nayau my great great great great...........grandfather of Tubou Lakeba Lau. To be honesty Lau was mostly settled by Tongans before even Ma'afus time, and that is why he was given the title easily
@@karemel3554 that’s true and as you guys are talking about this I am a descendant of Maafu. He was my fourth great grandfather and former prince of the Tongan throne until his father decided to give the throne to his nephew Siaosi Tupou 1 whose descendants reign proudly over.
One thing thats sad is, you always see the tokouso movement around Australia but most tongans dont that know we are family lol, i dont see the love from tonga for fijians
those guys & gals are fijians from lau, we call them the kai lau or from lau. lau is a group of islands in the south easter and eastern fiji that was once part of tonga. today alot of tongan traditions are still practiced in lau or slightly changed to meet the times,preferences, or to make a little different....keep in mind i said slightly and also some lauans consider themselves tongan first since some islands are closer to nukualofa than suva......
@rockdalefijians youre right=]lakalaka is originally Tongan but has been embraced by other islands.the tau'olunga and mauluulu R of Samoan origin.the kailao is originally from Uvea (Wallis) & the Fijian warrior dances are one of my favorite! It upsets me that sometimes Polys can get heated as far as the origin of dances, especially when some new dances R being made as speak. In reality we should appreciate our bond & realize how close knit we R as a poly family.im Tongan but Love my poly folks!
Some of the Tongans who are commenting on here are so Vale Kai Ta'e!! Can you please do some studying on history before commenting on things that are already obvious kae tuku e vale kua fiepalangi mo e siko tata!!
Mooni koe Island guy84601. Koe fuu kautama lakalaka koena koe hako’i Tonga pe neoongo enau Fisi. Ko Lau ko mei mei koe hako Peia a Maafu Enele. Kai Mua ke tau fiefia oku hanga a fonua kehe o Hailaiti a Tonga. Masii te tau ninimo Pe he Ta’emahino ‘etau kakai. Ko ne ita pe ha Tonga o pehe oku fakatakitaki a Fisi ki Tonga oku ilo leva ai ene vale ta’eako. Tau fiefia he koe kakai koe he ‘otumotu Lau ko ‘etau kainga pe. Ofa atu ki he mau kainga Tovato i Tubou mo Lakeba Lau.
Fkulia KO E HANGE HA kai lole AE KAKAI IA heni he LEA kapekape AI MO fao HA MEA OKU LELEI I homou ulu PEA MOU LEA AKI HA LEA OKU LELEI he OKU LAU PE heni homou NG FKAPAAPA ,taengali KO E FONUA LOTU,OKU mahino mai KO E TOONGA MOUI PE ENI IA I honau NG API , MEA maulalo KO E AGA E MOUI EE ,MALIE faiva MEI Fiji well done !!!
Dox King maafu himself descended from a Fijian chief, he was a very close cousin to the king of lau who also descends from a tongan mother they worked together to spread Christianity through out the Lau Islands. He's authority was 2nd to the Tui nayau(king of lau) and he respected that cause he also descends from the same lineage of Fijian chiefs. Point is maafu didn't necessarily rule Lau🤷♂️ he was lauan/tongan himself and he served the king of lau(tui nayau) he was 2nd in command
these are fijians from the eastern islands of lau doing a tongan lakalaka this group of islands have a close connection with tonga some of the islands are closer to tonga then to our own capital suva
Well the lakalaka is Tongan, the reason why the Lau province from Fiji perform the dance is because most of us are part Tongan.... so most of our traditions we still carry on with because they were bought over by our Tongan ancestors. It's not that we're tryna bite another cultures dance! We're proud of our Fijian/Tongan heritage.
Long before Maafu Tu'iLau ...dating back to first settlement we were the same people...and we still are.... its documented Taufaahau Tupou I, Maafu TuiLau, Tungi Halatuituia ...acknowledged that TuiNayau and the people of Lau are one and the same people since days of old..... OfaAtu my Lau family❤
So beautiful....my grandfather back row...second left...
tongans are also very proud of the connnections they have with fiji! I think tongan and fijian features are alot simillar than tongans and samoans. One day I wish to visit the Lau groups, can't wait :)
Very true my brother......i prefer Tongans are closely related to the people of Lau
@@karemel3554 yes us people from Lau are mostly have Tongan names and cultures.
I agree with Thomas.Mataloa , Lau is not the only province in Fiji with links to Tonga , Today when you go to Suva , you'll witness pure Fijian Kids who look as if they are half Tongan , some with Tongan built but dark skin and when you ask them where they are from , some are from Rewa , Lomaiviti , Vanua Levu , Nadroga....and Lau . This might have been a result of intermarriages from way back in the days!!!
A lot of Tongan princesses who were regarded higher than any Tongans were send to Fiji to get married there and I think they might also take some people with them too
@@kamamotumotu3357 yes that is true bro......especially Bau, Bua, Cakaudrove, Lomaiviti and macuata province.
Those are kailomas and Rotumans are the one's whom you seeing it or referring to.
The lauan people have a mixed Fijian/Tongan heritage and they are known as Lautonga by most people of Fiji. Beautiful to hear the Lauan people singing/performing tongan chants/dances. Also there used to be a tongan fort on Viti Levu and the people from that area claim Tongan heritage. Bauan Chiefs have close kinship with the Tongan royal families & whenever the Tongan royals have a formal engagement there must be a Fijian warrior guard present to escort as at the late King Taufa ahau funeral.
This be my village.... at 1:24 is my grandmothers brother R.I.P.
These men and women are from the chiefly village of Tubou and this footage is part of a film called "The Two Men of Fiji". Tubou and Lakeba as a whole has deep cultural and blood relationship with the Kingdom of Tonga. This particular lakalaka was especially prepared and given as a gift by the King of Tonga to the late Tui Nayau (Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba).
Note that Lau was never a part of Tonga - just related.
I hate to disagree brother,have a look at the history.Lau belong to Fiji and so it should be.Ma'afu invaded The Lau group and tried the mainland but failed.He retrieve back to Lau group and he declared ruler of the Lau group and regarded it a pard of Tonga!The British government convince the king that it should be given back to Fiji,and he humbly did and declared it!Anyway that is the past in the darker days malo of a atu
@@kamamotumotu3357 indeed he was by the Help of his half brother Tui Nayau my great great great great...........grandfather of Tubou Lakeba Lau.
To be honesty Lau was mostly settled by Tongans before even Ma'afus time, and that is why he was given the title easily
@@karemel3554 that’s true and as you guys are talking about this I am a descendant of Maafu. He was my fourth great grandfather and former prince of the Tongan throne until his father decided to give the throne to his nephew Siaosi Tupou 1 whose descendants reign proudly over.
@@jimpaea5473 thanks brother ✊🏼 finally someone who trully knows about he's history and knows excactly what I'm talking about.....may God bless you
@@karemel3554 are you a descendant of tui Nayau?
One thing thats sad is, you always see the tokouso movement around Australia but most tongans dont that know we are family lol, i dont see the love from tonga for fijians
these are Fijians of Tongan blood...quite an interesting history they have
those guys & gals are fijians from lau, we call them the kai lau or from lau. lau is a group of islands in the south easter and eastern fiji that was once part of tonga. today alot of tongan traditions are still practiced in lau or slightly changed to meet the times,preferences, or to make a little different....keep in mind i said slightly and also some lauans consider themselves tongan first since some islands are closer to nukualofa than suva......
WAOOOO BEAUTIFUL BROTHERS AND SISTER'S OFAATU
@rockdalefijians youre right=]lakalaka is originally Tongan but has been embraced by other islands.the tau'olunga and mauluulu R of Samoan origin.the kailao is originally from Uvea (Wallis) & the Fijian warrior dances are one of my favorite! It upsets me that sometimes Polys can get heated as far as the origin of dances, especially when some new dances R being made as speak. In reality we should appreciate our bond & realize how close knit we R as a poly family.im Tongan but Love my poly folks!
Some of the Tongans who are commenting on here are so Vale Kai Ta'e!! Can you please do some studying on history before commenting on things that are already obvious kae tuku e vale kua fiepalangi mo e siko tata!!
islandguy84601 siana alu 'o ai ha me'a ho 'ulu,lea fieme'a.
Mooni koe Island guy84601. Koe fuu kautama lakalaka koena koe hako’i Tonga pe neoongo enau Fisi. Ko Lau ko mei mei koe hako Peia a Maafu Enele. Kai Mua ke tau fiefia oku hanga a fonua kehe o Hailaiti a Tonga. Masii te tau ninimo Pe he Ta’emahino ‘etau kakai. Ko ne ita pe ha Tonga o pehe oku fakatakitaki a Fisi ki Tonga oku ilo leva ai ene vale ta’eako. Tau fiefia he koe kakai koe he ‘otumotu Lau ko ‘etau kainga pe. Ofa atu ki he mau kainga Tovato i Tubou mo Lakeba Lau.
It's really sad to see that our Tongan cousins have forgotten about us In Lau province nowdays.
Isaa😢😢djina saraga taciqu😒😒they are totally forgotten us lauan😢😢sad reality
Don't worry bros,I'm here with you anyway👍🏼ofa atu from Tonga💖🙏🏼
Whats sad about it? kua na Viavia kai toga. Just be proud of where you come from ke sega lako yani i toga
Fkulia KO E HANGE HA kai lole AE KAKAI IA heni he LEA kapekape AI MO fao HA MEA OKU LELEI I homou ulu PEA MOU LEA AKI HA LEA OKU LELEI he OKU LAU PE heni homou NG FKAPAAPA ,taengali KO E FONUA LOTU,OKU mahino mai KO E TOONGA MOUI PE ENI IA I honau NG API , MEA maulalo KO E AGA E MOUI EE ,MALIE faiva MEI Fiji well done !!!
This is Tongan style and the words are Tongan
Vela Vela Otu Lau 👏👏👏👏👏
Mãlõ Toko/Uso/Bula.
I am related to these people. My dad's village in haapai is felemea. The birth place of King Maafu. It was King Maafu that ruled the Lau.
Dox King maafu himself descended from a Fijian chief, he was a very close cousin to the king of lau who also descends from a tongan mother they worked together to spread Christianity through out the Lau Islands. He's authority was 2nd to the Tui nayau(king of lau) and he respected that cause he also descends from the same lineage of Fijian chiefs. Point is maafu didn't necessarily rule Lau🤷♂️ he was lauan/tongan himself and he served the king of lau(tui nayau) he was 2nd in command
@@commoner477 his mother is Mele Moala from felemea. She is pure Tongan.
Maafu father is Aleamotua. Also full Tongan.
In the village felemea, the village nickname is "Esi o Maafu" which means Maafu's burial site Because maafu's mother is from felemea.
@@commoner477 majority of the Lau people look and speak both fijian and Tongan. Many can even trace their lineage to Tonga.
Love how Lau people mixing Tongan and Fijian culture together...Its unique
Malo e lelei @rockdalefijians would you happen to have any information on the Tongan Punake's that cam e from Tonga to Fiji to teach these lakalaka?..
To'a Lau
0:21 is that the guy from the movie "two men of Fiji" 🤔🤔??
Yes thats film was shooting in Lakeba in the 60's...
beautiful footage nonetheless ! . .
are these Tongans or Fijians doing the lakalaka because the song is definitely Tongan? awesome footage regardless
These are my people from the province of Lau Fiji mostly settled by Tongans and still carry on with their tradition till date.
isa au vakanananu sara ga malo
these are fijians from the eastern islands of lau doing a tongan lakalaka this group of islands have a close connection with tonga some of the islands are closer to tonga then to our own capital suva
@rockdalefijians sorry then u history book geek dahahahaha. Cool video btw:)
malo! Rairai totoka! Noqu koro!
Malo tavale Ataogo.
malo malo....vinaka valevu