Dance, Money, and Interaction: Microanalysis of a Fund-raising Concert in the Kingdom of Tonga

抄録

Fakapale is the practice—especially common at fundraising events—of putting banknotes on a dancer’s body during traditional Tongan dances. The present article examines two aspects of fakapale at a fundraising concert: motivations for practicing fakapale and the relationships that are visualized through it, and its relevance to the role of currency in Tongan history and culture. This microanalysis reveals that fakapale is more than an accompaniment to dancing: it actively involves many people, both members and nonmembers of the church, and allows them to visualize their religious devotion, interpersonal relations, and communal support. The monetary aspect of fakapale, in which banknotes have gradually replaced wreaths and pieces of cloth, also mirrors the giving of coins in church.