A precarious calm has returned to Sigave after several weeks of tension between the kingdom’s two families.
After seven years vacancy Sigave, one of the two kingdoms of Futuna, has a new ruler.
The enthronement of the new Sigave customary sovereign (king) took place without incident on March 5 in Leava, capital of Futuna.
The title of Keletaona was bestowed on Eufenio Takala at a ceremony in the Fale Fono of Leava, the village he comes from.
The ceremony took place after several weeks of conflict among the traditional chiefs.
After the Kava ceremony, during the Sunday Mass, at the Church of Sau Sau, the parish priest, Lafaele Lie, anointed the new king calling him “to unity, peace and respect.”
Eufenio Takala took the place reserved for the customary sovereign.
Takala made a gesture of reconciliation by shaking hands with two traditional leaders, the Tuisavaka Sakafu and Eneliko Keketaona.
Since the last quarter of 2015, clashes have regularly occurred in the vicinity of the church building.
In recent weeks there have been scuffles between the families after church services, which prompted police to intervene.
The last king recognized by all, Visesio Moeliku, was inducted in 2004 and reigned until 2009, when he resigned.
The territory of Wallis and Futuna, to the north of Fiji, has three separate kingdoms that rule alongside the French republic.
Read original report in French
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