Culture of Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna, an overseas territory of France in Oceania has a rich Polynesian culture that is very similar to the cultures of its neighbouring nations Samoa and Tonga. The Wallisian and Futunan cultures share very similar components in language, dance, cuisine and modes of celebration.

Fishing and agriculture are the traditional practices and most people live in traditional fate houses in an oval shape made of thatch.Kava, as with many Polynesian islands, is a popular beverage brewed in the two islands, and is a traditional offering in rituals. Highly detailed tapa cloth art is a specialty of Wallis and Futuna.

The native languages spoken daily by the islanders are Wallisian (also called ʻUvea) and Futunan, two closely related languages which trace their roots to Samoic origin. Despite this, the official language (because of its administrative purposes), the de jure language is French (with the population of each island preferring to talk in their own native tongue). Oral traditions include the Tongan presence on Uvea and the Chant of Lausikula.

Most of the people are Roman Catholic; the law of Wallis and Futuna is partially based on Catholic morals. The Patron Saint of the Islands, Pierre Chanel was the first missionary who came to the island in 1837.

Tapas is a popular art form which is made from the “base” of the bark of the mulberry and breadfruit trees. The pounded bark is painted with vegetable colours and with attractive designs. It provides employment to about 300 people in almost every village, and from which many families have been economically benefited in the two islands. This art form is in great demand in the Pacific, in the Noumea and Tahiti. Another art form is making of mats and necklaces with straw and shells. Efforts to further promote this vocation to export goods beyond the islands to Europe and France has faced problems of high transportation costs.

...
Wikipedia