A Tongan-American singer Iam Tongi (18) made it as one of the Top 3 Finalists for American Idol 2023. After a powerful yet beautiful delivery of the songs, ‘Lava’ and ‘Father and son’ last night, 15 May.
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Results for Arts & Entertainment
Wednesday 19 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tongan-Kiwi artist, ‘Ahota’e’iloa Toetu’u (Loa), has installed new artwork in the Tanoa Dateline Hotel ballroom.
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Wednesday 19 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Jazz Musicians ‘SOAR’ will be in Tonga from 22-26 April, and will perform a free concert on the evening of 26 April at Digicel Square. The U.S. Embassy organized a “Friendship Tour” in collaboration with American Music Abroad (AMA).
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Wednesday 5 April 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An art exhibition was held at Tanoa International Hotel today, 5 April 2023. The exhibition featured four Tongan Artists to talk about their journey, their lives and the different variations of art that they create. “Art is something you have to be passionate about,” said ngatu artist Luisa Nau.
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Thursday 23 March 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Red, White & Brass’ a heart-warming Tongan movie that dramatises a true story of Tongan fans’ quest to watch Tonga’s match at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Wellington, was released in cinemas in New Zealand today, 23 March 2023.
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Friday 17 March 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Miss Tonga, Vesalua Tupou, was crowned the Continental Queen for Oceania at the 2023 Face of Beauty International preliminary competition on 16 March, in the Philippines.
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Tuesday 14 March 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A New Zealand tenor singer of Tongan heritage, Filipe Manu, was announced as one of 16 contestants in this year's BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2023, to be held in June.
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Thursday 3 November 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five times Olympian and two-times gold medalist, Dame Valerie Adams brought home to Tonga her inspirational 'More than Gold' feature film, dedicated to her late mother Lilika Ngauamo of Houma. The film is being screened for free for the rest of the week to youths and school students in Nuku'alofa. At the same time, it is being shown in New Zealand cinemas.
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Monday 25 July 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand-Tongan Tenor singer Filipe Manu has been named as the winner of the 2022 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa's most prestigious opera competition. Filipe has walked away with a life-changing immediate cash prize of $20,000, a study scholarship of $27,000, plus economy international travel up to the value of $3,000. The head judge said the talent of the five finalists was exceptional.
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Wednesday 20 July 2022
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Wellington, New Zealand
New Zealand-Tongan tenor singer Filipe Manu has been selected as one of five finalists for the 2022 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa's most acclaimed opera competition. The winner will judged live during solo performances this Saturday 23 July.
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Wednesday 22 December 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Festive bands played in Nuku'alofa, bringing welcome Christmas cheer to shoppers and holiday makers, despite the heat from the hot sun, today December 22, as Tonga approaches its second Christmas under border restrictions.
Tuesday 14 September 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding was taught to students at GPS Hofoa today who made folded shapes of a helmet, a heart and a balloon. Origami encourages students to concentrate and focus, said Tamada Iku, cultural and education officer at the Embassy of Japan in Tonga.
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Friday 20 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Renown Hawaii based Tongan Master Carver, Tu'ione Pulotu, has carved a massive Tongan tiki - at over 4.5 metres tall, probably the biggest in the country, which will be displayed at the Nuku'alofa Tanoa Hotel. He's looking forward to returning to Hawaii next week after carving over 100 canoes in Tonga since the border shut in March last year. By Eleanor Gee.
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Wednesday 30 June 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A singing competition, block party, food festival, float parade, and the One Tonga concert, are some of the events on the Ministry of Tourism’s festival calendar starting this week in Tongatapu.
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Monday 24 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A free concert featuring local performers including Filitonu Group, Suliana Dance Academy, and Fetu’ungingila Choir among others, will be held at the Tailulu College Falemasiva Hall on Friday evening, 28 May.
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Friday 30 April 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Humpback Whales filmed in Vava’u in 2018 feature in a new TV Series ‘Secrets of the Whales’ currently airing on Disney+. Alistair Coldrick and world class Tongan skipper, Ali Takau from Dolphin Pacific Diving in Vava'u were involved in the project.
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Monday 22 March 2021
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Auckland, New Zealand
Mother and daughter artists, Sulieti Fieme’a Burrows and Tui Emma Gillies are currently exhibiting their artwork ‘Voyagers: The Niu World’ at the Tautai Pacific Arts Trust, in Auckland.
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Tuesday 22 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
With a difficult year due to the COVID-19 pandemic globally, much needed Christmas cheer from the Tupou College brass band was heard in the Central Business District today, December 22.
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Friday 11 December 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Thirteen-year-old 'Oto'ota Fahina Likiliki has been selected from Tonga to sing in a virtual Commonwealth musical collaboration “for healing the human spirit during CoViD-19”. The musical project will combine 54 voices chosen from 54 Commonwealth member countries, to virtually record a soundtrack with the Dionysus Ensemble in Britain.
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Monday 19 October 2020
London, United Kingdom
Musical Tongans are urged to apply to join in a Commonwealth Musical collaboration “for healing the human spirit during CoVid-19”. By combining the voices of 54 musicians from 54 member countries in a powerful virtual performance, the music video aims to showcase every Commonwealth member nation. “We need a musician to represent Tonga on this project, and we haven't had any applications yet!” Léonie Adams, artistic director of the The Dionysus Ensemble told Matangi Tonga this morning.
