Tonga
Ko e fasi 'o e tu'i 'o e 'Otu Tonga
Song of the King of the Tongan Islands
1874
1874
Prince Uelingatoni Ngu Tupoumalohi
Karl Gustavus Schmitt
✝ God / Faith 👑 Monarchy ☮ Peace ❤ Love of homeland |
Key Facts
- 1. The anthem's composer, Karl Gustavus Schmitt, was a German missionary and music teacher who arrived in Tonga in the 1870s, making this one of the few Pacific anthems composed by a European resident.
- 2. Tonga's anthem is performed at the opening of every session of the Tongan Parliament, where members traditionally stand barefoot as a sign of respect to the monarch.
- 3. At just six lines in its commonly performed version, Tonga's anthem is one of the shortest national anthems in the world by lyric count, typically lasting under 30 seconds.
Lyrics
E 'Otua Mafimafi
Ko homau 'Eiki Koe
Ko Koe ko e falala
'A Tonga mo e 'ofa
A'u 'a Mamani lahi
Pea hoko ki 'Etanite.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Analysis
EditorialWritten by Prince Uelingatoni Ngu Tupoumalohi with music by Karl Gustavus Schmitt, the anthem was adopted in 1874. Tonga is the only Pacific Island nation never to have been formally colonized by a European power. The anthem reflects Tonga's identity as a constitutional monarchy with deep Christian values.