The Tonga Research Association (TRA) is calling for academic papers or stories based around the subject of ‘Langafonua’ or ‘community’ in any area of Tongan Studies, with abstracts due by 31 May 2019.

The papers will be presented at the 17^th TRA conference under the theme “Langafonua: [Re]Imagining the Tongan ‘Community’ in Tonga and Diaspora” on 18 – 21 September at Queen Salote College Hall, in Nuku’alofa.

According to the TRA, the late Queen Salote Tupou III gave the name ‘Langafonua’, to a women’s craft and arts group in 1953. It means building social and economic capacity of women for the collective good of their families and communities.

The word ‘community’ can be simply defined as all people living in an area, forming a social group or groups with shared common interests. 

The TRA describes Tongan communities as having many defining characteristics such as members identifying as either Tongans or non-Tongans who have common interests relating to Tonga. They are grouped by geographical location or virtual or both, and they contribute to their communities in many ways through the process of imagining and re-imagining of their community, producing both cohesive and divisive outcomes.

The papers or stories require authors to assess their own ‘Langafonua’ and explain what research or other outcome/s they can share and contribute to their Tongan community.

Authors should also include how these outcomes can be implemented as professional and cultural practices or standards for the collective good of the Tongan community in Tonga and diaspora.

Tangi said interested writers may contact here at tangi [dot] steen [at] unisa [dot] edu [dot] au for more information.

The TRA draws upon experts in different aspects of Tongan Studies keeping members updated in a variety of research projects conducted by Tongans and non-Tongans around the world.

The TRA Tonga Executive Committee for 2017-2019 includes TRA Patron of Honour Princess Pilolevu Tuita, TRA Chair Tangikina Steen, and TRA Vice-Chair ‘Asinate Samate.