Niuliki

Who is Niuliki?

Niuliki was a customary ruler of Futuna in the mid-19th century, first king of the Tu'a chiefdom (in the area later called 'Alo) before becoming king of the whole island after his warriors defeated the rival kingdom of Sigave in the 1839 Vai War. In November 1837 he permitted the French Marist missionary Pierre Chanel to settle on Futuna and preach among his people, and relations between the two men remained largely peaceful for several years. The relationship deteriorated as growing numbers of Futunans converted to Catholicism, defying traditional taboos and customary authority; the turning point came when Niuliki's own son, Meitala, converted and refused to obey his father's orders. In response, Niuliki directed his son-in-law Musumusu to kill the missionary, and on 28 April 1841 Chanel was clubbed and struck fatally with an axe and machete. Niuliki himself died the following year, in 1842, from an influenza epidemic, and was succeeded as king by his son Meitala, whose conversion had precipitated the crisis. Niuliki's reign remains central to how the introduction of Catholicism, and Futuna's first martyrdom, are remembered on the island.

Sources: Niuliki, Wikipédia (French, accessed 2026-07-02) · La 1ère (France Info), "Qui était Musumusu, l'assassin de saint Pierre Chanel ?" · Peter Chanel, Wikipedia — Futuna mission and martyrdom