Wallis and Futuna (
French: Wallis-et-Futuna), officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (
Fakafutuna and
Fakauvea: Uvea mo Futuna;
French: Territoire des îles Wallis-et-Futuna), are a French overseas collectivity in the South Pacific. The most populous island of the territory and the location of the capital and largest city, Mata-Utu, is the Wallis Island (Uvea) in the northeast, with the smaller Futuna Island and the mostly uninhabited Alofi Island being located in the southwest as the Hoorn Islands.
The territory was first settled by the French in 1837, with Wallis Island being named after British explorer Samuel Wallis and the Hoorn Islands after the Dutch town of Hoorn. It became a French protectorate under the authority of New Caledonia in 1887 and 1888 after the Queen of Uvea and the Kings of Alo and Sigave in Alofi and Futuna signed treaties, and was annexed by France and became a colony in 1917. The inhabitants of the islands later voted to become a French overseas territory in 1959, separating from New Caledonia's subordination and becoming their own territory.
The culture of the territory is very similar to Samoa and Tonga, sharing very similar components in language, dance, cuisine and modes of celebration. Deforestation due to the use of wood as the main fuel source for the territory is a huge problem, with the mountainous terrain of Futuna being prone to erosion, and only 5% of the territory's land being arable.
The Wallisian/Futunan flag
While the French tricolor is the official flag of the territory, this flag also sees local use. It features a red saltire on a white square, which in turn is placed on a red field (alternatively, a larger white cross pattée is used). The cross is shifted a little off center toward the fly (the cross pattée is also shifted slightly downwards), with the flag of France outlined in white on two sides in the upper hoist quadrant.
The French national anthem
Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous, de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé.
L'étendard sanglant est levé.
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égorger vos fils et vos compagnes!
Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!
Marchons, marchons,
Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons!
—
Let us go, children of the motherland,
The day of glory has come!
Against us, the tyranny's
bloody flag has been raised.
Bloody flag has been raised.
Can you hear in the countryside,
These ferocious soldiers bellowing?
They come all the way into your arms
To arms, citizens!
Form your batallions!
Let us march, let us march,
Government
- Devolved parliamentary dependency
- President: Emmanuel Macron
- Administrator Superior: Blaise Gourtay
- Assembly President: Munipoese Muliʻakaʻaka
- King of Uvea: Patalione Kanimoa
- King of Alo: Lino Leleivai
- King of Sigave: Eufenio Takala
Miscellaneous
- Capital and largest city: Matā'Utu
- Population: 11,558
- Area: 142.42 km
(54.99 sq mi)
- Currency: CFP franc (F) (XPF)
- ISO-3166-1 Code: WF
