Commonwealth Connections - Tonga

Download Tonga

A rare performance of music by the Lomipeau Collection, recorded in a church hall in the village of Lapaha, Tonga. Singer Alusa Falefa has been entrusted by Noble Kalaniuvalu Fotofili, the living heir to the Tu'i Tonga dynasty, to preserve this music. He leads a 30 strong vocal ensemble along with his son Soane Ngutukoula Tatuila Pusiaki, a practitioner of Tonga's most famous instrument the noseflute. This deeply moving form of music-making has been preserved since the 1800s, and Alusa's grandfather used to perform for Queen Salote of Tonga.

Published on Saturday, 12th April 2014.

Available Podcasts from Commonwealth Connections

Subscribe to Commonwealth Connections

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Commonwealth Connections webpage.