Tupou Fakaʻiloatonga, the lead guitarist of the Fangufangu-Mana-ʻO-Fusipala string band, which recorded one of the kingdom’s most popular songs, has died.
Fakaʻiloatonga died in Seattle in the United States on August 2.
Fangufangumana-‘O-Fusipala was established by one of Tonga’s best known poets, choreographer and musician, the late Peni Tutuʻila Malupō.
Their song ‘Hā‘ele ki Pilitānia’ depicted the late Queen Sālote Tupou III’s attendance at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
Fakaʻiloatonga was one of the best known guitarists in the 1950s onwards and played in what his followers always referred to as ongo mālie kehe pē, which meant it sounded exceptionally interesting in comparison with others who played the same tune.
Kaniva News talked to Malupoo’s son, Māloni Tutuʻila who is also a choreographer and a composer of Tongan songs, about how he remembered Fakaʻiloatonga when he was leading the Fangufangumana.
Māloni said he was one of the best guitarists of his time. This was shown when he became lead guitarist of several other string bands.
Māloni said his family came into contact with Fakaʻiloatonga when they moved from Haʻapai to stay in Mailetaha in Tongatapu.
Fakaʻiloatonga was one of the members of the Lōketi-‘O e-‘Otufelenite string band, before he joined the Fangufangumana-‘O-Fusipala.
Māloni said his father Malupō really loved the way Fakaʻiloatonga played the guitar to fit his songs and tune.
While he became the then lead guitarist for the Fangufangumana-‘O-Fusipala, the late Noble Aleamotuʻa, who was also the founder and composer of the Painituʻuua string band, asked Penitutuʻila, if Fakaʻiloatonga could play the lead guitar for his band.
“As far as I know there was a lead guitarist for the Painituʻua string band, but Aleamotuʻa was not confident with his playing so he asked Fakaʻiloatonga,” Māloni said.
Fakaʻiloatonga recorded a number of songs while playing for the Painituʻua including Lei Huni ʻo Pilolevu, Heletā Ulo e ʻOtu Felenite and Kapiteni Kaloka. He also became the lead guitarist for the Kapakau Tatangi ʻo e Funga Vaomapa string band.
Hāʻele ki Pilitānia (Royal trip to Britain):
Māloni said Fakaʻiloatonga was the lead guitar when the Fangufangumana band recorded the song ‘Hāʻele ki Pilitānia.’
“He did not sing. He just played the lead guitar while others were singing”, Māloni said.
The song was composed by Penitutuʻila to depict the late Kuini Sālote Tupou III’s visit to the British coronation in 1953.
Queen Sālote stole the show when she ignored the rain and travelled with the top of her carriage down so she could smile and wave to the crowds.
She was described by the Daily Telegraph as “the star of the day.”
In ‘Hāʻele ki Pilitānia’ Tutuʻila Tonganised some English words such as Burgingham, Windsor, Thames and Britain and used them in the song. These new Tongan words make the songs sound more interesting.
Queen Sālote’s performance in Britain during Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was a huge story in Tonga at the time and it was repeatedly broadcast on the only radio station at the time, the government-sponsored ZCO, now known as A3Z.
Māloni said when the queen returned from London she regularly requested ‘Hāʻele ki Pilitānia’ be played on the radio.
Fakaʻiloatonga’s tune
In Tonga, lead guitarists can play the lead on various standard tuning which differ from the international standard tuning that defines the pitch of the six strings as E,A,D,G,B and E.
Two typical Tongan guitar standard tunings are still known today as the Lavaka key and the Helepelu key.
Māloni said Fakaʻiloatonga played the Helepelu key. The key is the equivalent of key G in the international standard tuning, because all songs that are sung while the guitar is played are normally sung in G tonic, if the tuning of the guitar is tuned to the international standard tonic.
Fakaʻiloatonga was also unique in playing the helepelu key because he can also play the leading on key C of the helepelu key. Those who play the helepelu key do not play any other key rather than key G.
However, some players refer to the Helepelu key as key A not G, because guitars which are vamped behind the leading guitar have their guitars tuned down so the musicians can play the vamping in the position of key A in the guitar, one tone above key G, but this depends on the tonic key of the tuning. The positioning of the hand in chord A in the guitar gives the vampers enough spaces on the upper and lower frets to play around the vamping while accompanying the lead guitarists.
Māloni remembered how Fakaʻiloatonga played the lead guitar at the time with his thumb’s fingernail as there was no finger and thumb pick at the time.
When radio station ZCO was opened, the Fangufangu Mana String band was one of the groups to record at their studio. Māloni remembered when they finished recording they had to come to downtown Nukuʻalofa and play some music outside the local businesses. In return, they were offered money, food and drinks before they return home.
Editor’s note:
We contacted Fakaʻiloatonga’s family in US and asked for information on Fakaʻiloatonga, but are still waiting for a response. Because of that we have been unable to establish Faka’iloataonga’s age, family background or what was said at his funeral in this story.
Hāʻele ki Pilitānia by Peni Tutuʻila Malupō (Translated)
Let the Funga Siumalaki wind blows in
To carry this love to the royal dove
Beloved dove of Tonga, fluttered over the globe
Alighting at Windsor, amidst the throng of high diplomacy
The south westerly wind blows doubly
Leans against the Thames, scene of joyous celebrations
There effusing is the kakala, the prime of moheofo lineage
Whose fragrance moves the heart to unforgettable heights
Windfall turned vibrantly breezing
Nudging the kakala, fragrance of Burgingham
There glided beloved dove, knight of the Friendly Isles
Told in repartee as the clear sky of paradise
Rising sun of the friendly isles
Gleaming over Great Britain
And the prophecy is proclaimed
Affirmation of our treaty
My, how she peddles
The nation of Tonga
That stand tiny as a comma
But it’s now become famous.
Hāʻele ki Pilitāniá (Tongan version by Peni Tutuʻila Malupō)
Angiangi mai ‘a e Funga Siu-Malakí
Ke fakaa‘u ‘a e ‘ofa ni ki he lupe he Palasí
Si‘i lupe ‘o Tonga mānoa ‘i he kolopé
‘O ‘autō ki Uinisā vāvālafo‘anga ē tupé
Angi taulua ‘a e tonga hihifó
‘O falala he Tāmesi ko e fai‘anga ‘o e fakauō
Fio ai ē kakala ko e tumu‘aki ‘o Moheofó
Ne ngangatu ‘i he loto ‘o tu‘ula ‘i he ta‘emangaló
Ne sikāhema ma‘ili ‘one angiangí
‘O ue‘ia ē kakala he mausa ‘o Pākingihamí
Kapa ai si‘i lupe he naite ‘o e ‘Otu Felenití
He ‘oku taku he fetau langima‘a ‘o Palataisí
Taú
He la‘ā hopo ‘o Felenité
Huhulu ‘i Polata‘ané
He palōfisai kuo moveté
Fakama‘u ‘o e talité
‘Ofa ‘i he teké
Si‘i langi ‘o Tongá
He ‘oku tu‘u ko e komá
Ka kuo hoko ‘o ‘iloá
The main points
- Tupou Faka’iloatonga, the lead guitarist of the Fangufangu-Mana-ʻO-Fusipala string band, which recorded one of the kingdom’s most popular songs, has died.
- Faka’iloatonga died in Seattle in the United States on August 2.
- Fangufangumana-‘O-Fusipala was established by one of Tonga’s best known poets, choreographer and musician, the late Peni Tutu’ila Malupo.
- Their song depicted the late Queens Salote Tupou III’s attendance at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1958.
For more information
Queen Salote at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation (British monarchy official website)
