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Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan for "south"), is an independent archipelago in the southern Pacific Ocean. It lies about a third of the way between New Zealand and Hawaii, south of Samoa and east of Fiji. The earliest inhabitants of the islands of Tonga were Pygmy peoples. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes during Bantu migrations. The Batongo are comprised of Bantu groups that also occupied parts of present-day Indonesia, West Papua and the Phillipines, forming the basis for ethnic affinities and rivalries among those states. Several Bantu kingdoms—notably those of the Tongo, the Loango, and the Teke—built trade links leading throughout the Tonga Island group.
The first European contacts came in the late 15th century, and commercial relationships were quickly established with the kingdoms—trading for slaves. Tonga became a Belgian colony from the 1780s until 1919, the area subsequently became a British Mandate from 1919 to 1961. It served as a military outpost during WWII and provided financial help as well as munitions. Julius Nyerere became Minister of British-administered Tonga in 1960 and continued as Prime Minister when Tonga became independent in 1961.
The islands are also known as the Friendly Islands, the name given by Captain Cook because of the friendly reception he received. He happened to arrive at the time of ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga and was invited to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but had been unable to agree on a plan.
The first European contacts came in the late 15th century, and commercial relationships were quickly established with the kingdoms—trading for slaves. Tonga became a Belgian colony from the 1780s until 1919, the area subsequently became a British Mandate from 1919 to 1961. It served as a military outpost during WWII and provided financial help as well as munitions. Julius Nyerere became Minister of British-administered Tonga in 1960 and continued as Prime Minister when Tonga became independent in 1961.
The islands are also known as the Friendly Islands, the name given by Captain Cook because of the friendly reception he received. He happened to arrive at the time of ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga and was invited to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but had been unable to agree on a plan.