Uvea
ʻUvea
Chiefdom
Royal Standard
Flag
Official seal of Uvea
Seal
Wallis island (Chiefdom of Uvea) showing the 3 districts
Wallis island (Chiefdom of Uvea) showing the 3 districts
Coordinates: 13°17′S 176°12′W / 13.283°S 176.200°W / -13.283; -176.200
Country France
Territory Wallis and Futuna
IslandWallis
CapitalMata Utu
Area
 • Total159 km2 (61 sq mi)
Population
 (2018 census)
 • Total8,333
 • Density52/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12
No. of districts3
No. of municipalities21
Map of Wallis island

ʻUvea (Wallisian: ʻUvea, French: Royaume coutumier de Uvea) is one of the three official chiefdoms (Royaume coutumier, lit. 'customary kingdom') of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna (the other two being Sigave and Alo) in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean.

Geography

Overview

ʻUvea encompasses the whole of Wallis and the surrounding islets. The total area of the kingdom is 96 square kilometres (37 sq mi) with a population of 8,333 spread over three districts. The capital and largest village is Mata Utu, situated on the east coast with a population of 1,029.

Administrative division

The chiefdom counts 3 districts and 21 municipalities:[1]

Districts
DistrictPopulation
(Census 2018)
Hihifo1,942
Hahake3,415
Mu'a2,976
Municipal villages
VillagePopulationDistrict
Alele524Hihifo
Vaitupu406Hihifo
Mala'e504Hihifo
Vailala341Hihifo
Tufu'one167Hihifo
Mata Utu1,029Hahake
Liku605Hahake
Falaleu572Hahake
Aka'aka474Hahake
Ahoa436Hahake
Ha'afuasia299Hahake
Utufua602Mua
Halalo471Mua
Vaimalau371Mua
Lavegahau330Mua
Te'esi216Mua
Mala'efo'ou171Mua
Gahi249Mua
Tepa270Mua
Ha'atofo197Mua
Kolopopo99Mua
Other villages[2]
VillagePopulationDistrict
Alofivai437Hahake
Fineveke?Mua

History

Talietumu archaeological site
Uvean flag between 1860 and 1896

ʻUvea has probably been inhabited by Polynesians since the 15th century CE and was then part of the Tuʻi Tonga Empire. The two archaeological sites of Talietumu and Tonga Toto are remains from that period.

The kingdom of ʻUvea was founded sometimes in the 15th century and the monarch was titled Tuʻi ʻUvea (king).[3]

April 5, 1887 the island became a French protectorate after queen Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki signed a treaty with France but keeping her royal powers.

In 1888 Sigave and Alo also signed the treaty with France thus creating the "Wallis and Futuna Islands Protectorate".

In 1961 the status was upgraded to being a French overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer) and in 2003 Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer), but the local royal powers continue.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Population municipale des villages des îles Wallis et Futuna (recensement 2018)". INSEE. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  2. ↑ without municipal status
  3. ↑ Worldstatesmen.org - access date: 2010-10-30
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