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).