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ʻAmui ʻi Muʻa/Ancient Futures: Fatu fala e fale lalanga (Weaving Threads)
Abstract
This article explores the intertwined worldviews of Queen Sālote Tupou III and Tongan scholar Epeli Hauʻofa on identity, kinship, and self-determination in the context of Tonga’s cultural preservation and artistic legacy. Through the lens of contemporary Tongan artists Dagmar Vaikalafi Dyck and Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, the ʻAmui ʻi Muʻa/Ancient Futures project demonstrates how their artistic practices reclaim Tongan cultural narratives from colonial collections. This article examines their shared commitment to reconnecting with ancestral knowledge, navigating diasporic identities, and challenging institutional barriers to reclaim the koloa (treasures) and histories embedded in their art and practice.