| OCR Text |
Show Petiola Kinikini and her new husband, Filikisi Ha-foka, watch the elaborate proceedings of a Tongan wedding. By Hal Cannon Keeping up relations The Kmifcira family's Tongan wedding • Hal Cannon is the folk arts coordinator for the Utah Arts Council and directs the Utah Folklife Center. He has published numerous articles on western folk art and music and edited two books on the subject. T HE BRIDE looked painfully nervous as she was ushered to a platform shaded by a Polynesian barkcloth canopy. Escorted by older women, who were clowning outrageously, the bride's discomfort was distracted. A half dozen pigs lay, cloven hooves pointing upwards. Four-hundred round brown faces watched as the groom and bride sat on cousins' laps from their mothers side of the family. This is called huki ange, a human seat. Where am I? I had lost track. I was transplanted to Tonga, yet I knew I was in the backyard of one of endless middle class homes in Salt Lake City's west side.I first had to remember that I was a pa-lingi (white), I was there as a guest, as a folklorist, as a director of a video-taking crew and as a state official I then got my bearings by looking out to the street where curious neighbors gawked. After the resonant bellies of the pigs were slapped, accompanied by Tongan praise for the fineness of these gifts to the bride's family, the rare kava root, flown from Tonga, was pulverized by two women who ceremoniously added water to the potent sawdust tea. After being strained it was respectfully served to the elders of the family like a sacrament. Muli Kinikini sat cross-legged on a mat. When he spoke, all hushed as the great Punake (master composer, poet, and choreographer) recited an impromptu poem commemorating the marriage of his eldest granddaughter. A feast was served of pit-roasted pork and chicken, corned beef and spinach, boiled banana, taro, squash, fruit and cakes. The contrasts were clear. Supersized, hinged, styrofoam containers held giant portions of Tongan culinary delights as a Tongan media wizard videotaped the ancient kava ceremony for a space-age Beta-max. The crowning contrast came after dinner with the introduction of the hired entertainment. The Deroe Sisters, five blondes, ages 7 to 15, discoed on the stage in Osmondian style. They were exuberant pros who broke the ice by pulling two stately elders from the audience and seating them facing the crowd. PHOTOGRAPHY/ CAROL EDISON DESIGN/ ROBERT NOYCE Sione lloa Funaki watches the kava ceremony, a major tradition in the Tongan community. |
