King Charles III Embraces Samoan Culture as He is Honored as High Chief

Thursday 24 October 2024 - 14:05

In a historic moment for both the British monarchy and the Pacific nation, King Charles III participated in a traditional kava-drinking ceremony, officially being named a “high chief” of Samoa. This event marks the king's first visit to the island, part of an 11-day tour of Australia and Samoa, following his recent cancer diagnosis.

Dressed in a white safari-style suit, the 75-year-old monarch sat at the head of a beautifully carved timber longhouse, where he was presented with a polished half-coconut filled with the narcotic kava brew, known locally as “ava.” This peppery drink, integral to Pacific culture, was prepared by the chief’s daughter and filtered through a traditional sieve made from dried bark. As the drink was poured, a Samoan man shouted in celebration, and King Charles offered a blessing, saying, “May God Bless this ava,” before taking a sip.

Beside him, Queen Camilla fanned herself against the tropical humidity, as the couple was warmly welcomed by the local community. Chief Lenatai Victor Tamapua expressed the village's honor in bestowing the title upon the king, emphasizing the excitement surrounding his visit. “Everyone has taken to our heart and is looking forward to welcoming the king,” he stated.

During their visit to the village of Moata’a, the king and queen were shown the local mangroves, where concerns about climate change were raised. Tamapua highlighted the rising tides that have eroded the reef and threatened local food sources, stating, “Our community relies on the mangrove area for mud crab and fishes, but the tide has risen over the past 20 years by about two or three meters.”

The king's visit coincides with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where he is set to address a banquet of leaders. The meeting's agenda is heavily influenced by the legacy of colonialism, with discussions on reparations for slavery and climate change taking center stage. Joshua Setipa from Lesotho, one of the candidates for the new secretary-general, emphasized the need for solutions that address historical injustices while considering current global challenges.

Pacific leaders, including those from Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Fiji, have called for a “fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty,” urging major Commonwealth nations like Australia, Britain, and Canada to take more significant action in reducing emissions. Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change, Ralph Regenvanu, called for unity among nations to halt fossil fuel expansion, stressing the urgency of protecting the Pacific’s fragile ecosystems.

As the king engages with these pressing issues, his visit serves as a reminder of the intertwined histories of the Commonwealth nations and the ongoing challenges they face in the era of climate change.