[controversial thread] So in celebration of #RotumanLanguageWeek a lot of social media posts from well-meaning Rotumans and non-Rotumans are using images of this flag which they’ve found online which in some fora is incorrectly described as the Flag of Rotuma. #rotuma

It is in fact the flag of the Mölmahao “foundation”, which was a cultural revival movement on Rotuma in the late 80’s led by a talented and charismatic karate master from NZ called Henry Gibson, who went by the title “Gagaj Sau Lagfatmarō, King of the Royal Mölmahao Clan” #rotuma

Gibson was passionate about pre-colonial Rotuman culture and keen to revive what he and his followers believed were traditional practices such as communing with ancestors through elaborate kava ceremonies which would be unrecognised by modern Rotumans.

In pursuit of the preservation of old #Rotuman artifacts and practices he even managed to convince the Fiji Museum to repatriate ancient stone carvings which he claimed had been used for ancient chiefly kava ceremonies.

He stated his ambitions for Rotuma and even the title Lagfatmaro came to him in dreams and visions where he was approached and enthroned by ancient chiefs.

To demonstrate the mana acquired from their anointing he would perform karate demonstrations which involved feats of strength including lifting seemingly immovable boulders, and fighting off would-be assailants, which earned him wide admiration among Rotumans for his skill.

After the first Fiji coups, Gibson and his followers used anti-coup, pro-British sentiment to foment a minor crisis amongst Rotumans by unilaterally declaring independence from Fiji, hoisting a Union Jack and allegiance to Queen Elizabeth in defiance of the Council of Rotuma.

The movement proceeded to install an alternate set of district chiefs and assert independence, which was seen as an act of sedition which required a Fiji Military presence to quell the threat of civil unrest on the usually sleepy and peaceful island.

This interesting episode in the history of #Rotuma is why I and many feel that the use of this flag to represent Rotuma as a whole during #RotumanLanguageWeek (or any week) is inappropriate and misidentifies all of us with a movement supported by a controversial minority group.

The solution therefore is: (1) to educate people on the history of that flag (this article shared by @biscatty678 by the inimitable Alan Howard is compulsory reading for any student of Rotuman history: http://www.hawaii.edu/oceanic/rotuma/os/howsel/18symbols.html)

And (2) to come up with a new flag that represents all Rotumans. To become official it would need to be adopted by the Council of Rotuma, but for the adjudication of the Council of Rotuman Twitter and your viewing pleasure tonight, let me present my own meagre proposal:

Matin Fo’ou ne Rotuma: A proposed new Flag for Rotuma #rotuma #rotumanlanguage (NB: not associated with any secessionist / independence movements or personality cults, just an experiment in vexillology and design)

And that, gagaj fā ma hạina, haharạgi ma läri’ri’i (gentlemen, ladies, youths and kids) of Twitter, is why we shouldn’t use the red and yellow flag to represent Rotuma.
Thus ends #Rotuman #History and #Vexillology 101. Class dismissed.