Tonga's Queen Sālote to be recognized at Pacific Music Awards
Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Tonga's late Queen Sālote Tupou lll will be recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Pacific Music Awards in Auckland.
The award will be posthumously presented at the 15th awards ceremony on Thursday.
Queen Sālote ascended to the throne in 1918 when she was just 18 and reigned for almost 48 years until her death in 1965.
She also composed over 100 songs, lullabies, laments and dances.
The Pacific Music Awards Trust said it acknowledges Queen Sālote's huge contribution to the preservation and creative use of the Tongan language and recognises her as a celebrated writer of poetry and song.
The Trust said her compositions continue to inspire a new generation today.
There will be a special collaboration tribute to the late Queen at the awards night.
Queen Sālote's grandchild, Princess 'Ofeina 'e he Langi Fakafānua will accept the award on her behalf.