Ep 26: Addictive Behaviours and Culture with Edmond Fehoko

Public health and Pacific studies scholar Edmond Fehoko joins
this episode to discuss his research on problem gambling,
addictive behaviours, and culture among Tongan men. He confronts
sensitive topics head on such as gender issues, exploitation of
cultural values, family impact, and religion.  We discuss
traditional games of chance and new contexts of contemporary
gambling practices, class status, large church donations, and
future research interests that extend into digital harms online.
Due to the topics discussed and potential listeners this is
listed as E, since there is no T, for Tapu.


 


Terms: Mālō e Lelei (common Tongan greeting), Mālō e Laumalie
(chiefly Tongan greeting), Misinale (Tongan transliteration of
missionary, refers to locally based annual fundraising for Tongan
Methodist church denominations), Kolisi Tutuku (refers to the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Mormon] Liahona high
school alumni association and their fundraising for reunions,
etc.), Fatongia (Tongan for duty/responsibility), Sika (Tongan
game of spear throwing), Lafonga (game played in Tonga, Sāmoa,
and Fiji [Lavo], a Tongan version involved throwing coconut shell
disks as close to the end of a mat on the ground, knocking over
another’s disk [tupe], while keeping yours on the mat and close
to the edge), Mate Ma‘a Tonga (lit. die for Tonga, refers to
giving your all for Tonga/Tongan culture, also the rugby league
team currently known as Kau To‘a), Pokies (term for poker
machine, poker), TAB (racing and sports gambling in NZ),
faka‘apa‘apa (Tongan cultural value of respect), Mamahi‘i me‘a
(Tongan cultural value of loyalty and devotion), Tauhi vaha‘a/vā
(Tongan cultural value of upholding social-spatial relations),
Loto to (Tongan cultural value of modesty and humility).