State Dinner With President Tong

Special State Dinner with President Tong of Kiribati 

On April 30th we were invited to attend a dinner in the Kiribati State Maneaba with President Beretitenti Anote Tong and the First Lady Bernadette Meme Tong.  In Kiribati, it would be equivalent to being invited to a dinner reception at the White House in the USA.  All American ex patriots were invited to meet the  new American Ambassador HE Frankie A. Reed as well as the new Ambassadors for Fiji, Spain and Cuba.  We met Ambassador Reed, she was a very gracious lady who has spend much of her career teaching and working over seas including time in the Peace Corps.  She will be stationed as the US embassy in Fiji.  

The majority ex patriot guests were LDS missionaries.  The three couples: Bonnemorts, Ogborns and Thornes along with six sister missionaries and twenty-nine young Elders.  All in all there were 41 missionaries who stood out in the white shirts and ties and the sister missionaries

The invitation said the attire was Island Formal, we wore shirts and ties and the sisters their missionary dress.  Many of the Kiribati had similar patterned short sleeve shirts with Kiribati designs, with no ties.

 Photo of President Beretitenti Anote Tong and the First Lady Bernadette Meme Tong (photo is not at the reception 

President Tong and the First Lady were there to greet all the guest as they entered the State Maneaba,  they were very gracious and warm in their greetings, as we entered.  The maneaba was of traditional design with coconut logs lashed together with cordage made from coconut leaves (as explained in an earlier post in this blog).  The roof was covered with woven pandanus mats.  It was very impressive architecture.  As we exited the maneaba we were shown to our seats by ushers dressed in all white shirt, shorts and long white stockings.

Traditional Kiribati Dance being performed for President and First Lady Tong, guest ambassadors and other invited guests.  Excuse the picture but it was dark and difficult to get a clear photo from where we were seated.

There was excellent entertainment, a group of student from a Catholic High School performed several traditional Kiribati dances.  They wore the traditional ceremonial  dress which is made from leafs from native plants, trees and other material found on the island.  Mats are tightly woven and then pounded to make them thinner, a similar as making tapa cloth.  The mats are tied around the young men's waists 
so when they hit the mat during their dances it makes a loud distinctive slapping sound 

The young ladies wore grass skirts (probably made from coconut or pandanus leafs.  They each have a wreath made of native materials on their heads.  The dances not only have some of the characteristics of a hula but they also clap their hands in rhythm and hit their sides on the mats around their waists which makes a loud slapping sound.   

The vigorous clapping and chanting of the chorus and their stately controlled movements portray centuries of I-Kiribati history in the detail of their dance and hand movements and words of the ancient songs.  Songs speak of great battles, legends of creation and migration and the everyday I-Kiribati life.

According to an article by Tony Wincup, A New Zealand anthropologist, describing Traditional Kiribati Dance:  "Its performance is the intense focal point of the skills, preparation and practice for the dancers and their families. Bewbwe Kanitio Tearo emphasises the significance of body movements in these tellings: ...the arm, head and eye movements should always follow the rhythm of the song and illustrate the meaning of the words. For example, the arm that stretched sideways with the forearm moving up and down, it illustrates the bird that flies up in the air. The arm horizontally moves forward or inward or outward in an up and down fast movement illustrates the movement of fish. 

There are numerous forms of dance from the ancient and beautiful seated te bino to the dramatic standing dance te buki, in which a voluminous and heavy skirt is flicked from side to side. Each dance has its own particular meaning, costume, sequence and song." 

Hand motions and rhythmic clapping and foot movement are part of traditional dance.  It was a spectacular performance, there must have been at least 30 young people performing with such synchronization was truly impressive.  Another impressive dance performed by three young ladies, who wore the voluminous heavy skirts using rapid side to side hip movements made the skirts roll up and down and in all directions.  The rest of the dancers were performing in back of them. 

Unfortunately it was dark where we were seated most of our photos didn't turnout.  As part of the entertainment there were also a group of men who sat next the maneaba and sang traditional Kiribati songs.

I-Kiribati group performed songs for the honored guests through out the evening

President Tong then welcomed the new Ambassadors and gave a short speech.  After each of the Ambassadors were introduced and gave a few remarks.  We then were invited a table at a time to go to the maneaba to a smorgasbord of traditional Kiribati food.  It was very plentiful and delicious including a chef who carved a large pig laying on a side table (snout - tail and all).  The waiters were dressed in all white made sure there was plenty of soft drinks or water for the missionaries, other guests had other liquid refreshments.  It was an impressive evening for all who attended.

Fiji has provided land for about 5000 I-Kiribati to resettle there because of overcrowding and fear that global warming may cause the ocean to rise and cover many of the atolls.  Cuba has a program to train the Doctors from Kiribati and help them get medical degrees.  I'm not sure what role Spain plays in Kiribati.  Each ambassador covers several nations in the South Pacific.

During the Performance the dancers went to the audience and asked guests to participate in the dance including some of the missionaries and other guests.  Fortunately we were not asked to dance with them

Several Ambassadors from other countries attended we sat at the table with the Ambassador from Taiwan.   We have met him a few times before.  The Taiwanese often come to Moroni High Saturday afternoons to play softball on the playing field.  He has a son who has just been admitted to Rice University for graduate studies and another son going to a prestigious university in England.  He has spent time in the US working in various embassies.  There were also government workers and other members of parliament in attendance.

Enjoying the meal with Elder Corwin and Peggy Ogborn who are Humanitarian Missionaries from Orem, Utah
I stole this and the next photo from Elder and Sister Bonnemorts Mission Blog (thanks).  None of my photos were usable for the blog.

Meeting and having a short visit with Ambassador Frankie Reid who will be working out of Fiji and the South Pacific.  She was a very gracious lady whom we enjoyed having a brief visit and welcoming her to Kiribati.

Our Ward Bishop Arobati Brechtefeld, recently resigned his position at Moroni High School to work as an area Director of Foreign affairs assigned to Asian region.   He is scheduled to go to Japan with President Tong next week.  He is excited because his wife and kids are with her parents in Japan.  She recently had another baby and goes to Japan to receive better medical care.