By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

The Free Church of Tonga (Siasi ‘o Tonga Tauataina) held their annual September roll call (Tali ui Sepitema) for the women of the church from around the island, at Falemasiva Hall in Havelu on 25 September 2024.

The Roll Call is a Tongan church tradition held every September, where women dress in their best white outfits and fill the church.

A participant of this year’s roll call, Malia told Matangi Tonga that this is a celebration of women in the church.

The women in roll call are all part of a distinct group in the Free Church of Tonga named ‘Akonaki’.

They start off their journey in the church, as young girls in the ‘Lautohi faka-Sapate’ or Sunday school, with classes from 1-7. When they graduate as teenagers, they move on to ‘Akoako’, a group of youths or/and unmarried adults in the church.

After ‘Akoko’, some of the women will advance into ‘Lotu Fehu’i’.

Then ‘Akonaki’ is the last group, made up of elderly women. New Akonakis are introduced every year and it is considered a high honor for women in the church.

Meanwhile, some of the women were seen dressed in all black, this is usually because they are mourning the loss of a family member.