Marshall Islands celebrate first coronation of paramount chief in 50 years

News Programmes Schedules How to Listen About RNZ Pacific PACIFIC23 Jul 2022 Marshall Islands celebrate first coronation of paramount chief in 50 years 8:28 am on 23 July 2022 Share this Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share via email Share on Reddit Share on Linked In Giff Johnson Giff Johnson, Editor, Marshall Islands Journal / RNZ Pacific correspondent Thousands of Marshall Islanders converged on Ebeye Island this week for the first coronation ceremony of a paramount chief in half a century. Iroojlaplap (paramount chief) Michael Kabua walks through an honor guard of spear-holding warriors representing the 12 atolls and single islands in his domain at the start of a gala coronation ceremony in the Marshall Islands Thursday night. Thousands of people were on hand to witness the event, the first Kabua royal family coronation in half a century. Photo: Chewy Lin.Iroojlaplap (paramount chief) Michael Kabua walks through an honour guard of spear-holding warriors representing the 12 atolls and single islands in his domain at the start of a gala coronation ceremony in the Marshall Islands Thursday night. Photo: Chewy Lin

RADIO NZ – Marshall Islands celebrate first coronation of paramount chief in 50 years | RNZ News

Giff Johnson, Editor, Marshall Islands Journal / RNZ Pacific correspondent

Thousands of Marshall Islanders converged on Ebeye Island this week for the first coronation ceremony of a paramount chief in half a century.

The gala coronation for Iroojlaplap (paramount chief) Michael Kabua featured dozens of islanders wearing traditional headdress and finely woven mat clothing unique to the Marshall Islands.

There were spear-carrying warriors representing the 12 atolls and single islands in the chiefly domain of the Ralik Chain, a traditional dance presentation rarely seen, and conch shell blowing to greet each stage of the event.

The ceremony underscored the vitality and power of the customary system in the Marshall Islands, which remains a significant force in the modern western system of governance established here by constitution in 1979.

Thousands of people gathered on the small island of Ebeye in Kwajalein Atoll, which hosts the US Army’s Reagan Test Site missile testing facility, to witness the first coronation for the Kabua royal family since Kabua’s cousin, Iroojlaplap Joba Kabua, ascended to the throne in the 1970s.

The Kabua family is the leading royal family in the Marshall Islands and Michael’s cousin, Amata Kabua, was both iroojlaplap and the founding father of the modern Marshall Islands as its first president for 17 years.

The Army command at the base rolled out the red carpet for the event, providing housing to accommodate dozens of people who flew into Kwajalein for the special occasion.

READ FULL ARTICLE : Marshall Islands celebrate first coronation of paramount chief in 50 years | RNZ News

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