Crafts
Tapa cloth
Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
Women across Polynesia beat the inner bark of the paper mulberry into cloth and decorate it with patterns. In Tonga it is called ngatu and is used at weddings and funerals.
Craft: Beaten bark cloth
Tonga: leaders, famous people, culture and history
1 place on the atlas covering crafts. Highlights include Tapa cloth.
What is on the atlas
- Crafts Tapa cloth
Who leads Tonga?
| King | Tupou VI |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Fatafehi Fakafanua |
Office-holders as of July 2026. Governments change, so check Tonga’s official government website for the latest. Full list of heads of state and government.
Famous people from Tonga
- King Taufa'ahau Tupou I unifier of Tonga
- Queen Salote Tupou III beloved monarch
- Epeli Hau'ofa writer and anthropologist
- Pita Taufatofua taekwondo and cross-country skiing athlete
- Jonah Lomu (of Tongan descent) rugby star
A short, well-known selection rather than a ranking. People pinned on the map appear in the cards below.
Crafts in Tonga
How to use this page
This page brings together the people who lead Tonga today, a short selection of well-known people from Tonga, and the 1 place pinned for Tonga on the atlas. Use the buttons at the top to see Tonga on the map, where you can filter by theme, read a short summary of each pin and follow the link to Wikipedia for the full article. To browse the same themes across the whole world, see the crafts page.
Questions about Tonga
Who is the leader of Tonga?
As of July 2026: King: Tupou VI; Prime Minister: Fatafehi Fakafanua. Office-holders change, so check the official government site for the latest.
Who are some famous people from Tonga?
Well-known people connected with Tonga include King Taufa'ahau Tupou I (unifier of Tonga), Queen Salote Tupou III (beloved monarch), Epeli Hau'ofa (writer and anthropologist), Pita Taufatofua (taekwondo and cross-country skiing athlete) and Jonah Lomu (of Tongan descent) (rugby star).
What traditional crafts is Tonga known for?
Traditional crafts from Tonga on the atlas include Tapa cloth. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
How can I explore Tonga on the map?
Choose See Tonga on the map above, or search for Tonga on the atlas. You can filter by theme, drag the Time travel slider to see who was alive and what was standing in different centuries, and open any pin for a short summary and a link to the full Wikipedia article.