A Tongan man has been caught on camera attacking an old Tongan man inside a fale kalapu (kava club)
According to sources, the men in the video were relatives and the incident occurred in the US early this week.
The attacker can be heard telling the victim, who was the president of the club, to stop hulohula (dancing) inside the house.
The old man responded and said it was not the appropriate time and place for them to sort out the attacker’s concern.
The attacker threatened to kick out the club from his property. He said he could do whatever he wanted as it was his property.
He said he was unhappy with the victim and other members of the club for dancing with the tou’a – the woman who was serving the kava at the club.
He said he saw on Facebook it was the victim who was allegedly dancing with the tou’a.
The attacker told the victim his action embarrassed him as owner of the property as he was a member of a church.
The video has been widely shared and reposted online. One post was shared more than 80 times and viewed more than 38,350. It received 317 reactions and attracted more than 270 comments.
Breaching of taboo
It is understood the episode erupted after what appeared to be a breach of the taboo of kava sessions.
The incident came after another video clip was previously shared online.
In that video, a woman and a man in a fale kalapu were slow dancing while the club’s acoustic band was playing.
The video showed the woman and his dancing partner covered their faces with a white piece of cloth while dancing.
You can follow this link to watch the videos
Editorial comments
Culturally, there are certain taboos kava drinkers and the woman who is serving kava (tou’a) must follow. This including the tou’a having to wear a Tongan formal attire especially with a ta’ovala. She also has to sit in the faite style in which both legs have to be closed to the left or the right.
The brothers and male cousins of the tou’a must not attend the kava session.
The tou’a must (fakamolumalu) behave respectfully and discipline herself with appropriate manners including stopping the kava drinkers from touching her or trying to kiss her in an attempt to create a stunt or joke.
The main points
- A Tongan man has been caught on camera attacking an old Tongan man inside a fale kalapu (kava club).
- According to sources, the men in the video were relatives and the incident occurred in the US early this week.
