Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Tofor

Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal was a traditional senior chief from the Malampa Islands of Vanuatu. He was also an army veteran who had fought during World War II.

Last revised
Jul 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
296 w
Citations
5
Source
Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal
Personal details
Bornc.1918
DiedDecember 1999(1999-12-00) (aged 80–81)

Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal (c. 1918 – c. December 1999) was a traditional senior chief from the Malampa Islands of Vanuatu. He was also an army veteran who had fought during World War II.1

Life

Early life

Tofor-kon Tete Rengrengmal was born around 1918.2 His father, Chief Bule Tainmal, was a chief in Malampa.3

Career

He was recruited by his father, Chief Tainmal, to serve as his bodyguard.

During World War II, he was trained by the United States Army and fought in the Solomon Islands.4

Tofor was accused of multiple murders, which led to legal disputes with authorities in both France and the United Kingdom. Efforts to pursue legal action were complicated by issues related to the availability and handling of evidence.

Legacy and honors

By the time of Chief Bule Tainmal's death in 1972, Tofor had attained the rank of Meleun Getlam. He presided over his father's death ceremony and fulfilled his Mal rank obligations on the same day. Tofor died in December 1999 at the age of either 80 or 81.3

External links
References

References

  1. Krueger, Joachim I.; Evans, Anthony M.; Heck, Patrick R. (2017-07-20). "Let Me Help You Help Me". Oxford Scholarship Online. 1. doi:10.1093/oso/9780190630782.003.0007.
  2. "Tofor by : | Ex Libris". www.exlibris.ch (in German). Retrieved 2025-09-30.
  3. Rio, Knut Mikjel (2007-05-01). The Power of Perspective: Social Ontology and Agency on Ambrym Island, Vanuatu (1 ed.). Berghahn Books. doi:10.2307/j.ctv287sdxx.11. ISBN 978-1-80073-516-3. JSTOR j.ctv287sdxx.
  4. Liotard, Georges (2011-01-20) [Septembre 1970]. ""Bule Tainmal"- vieux chef important et respecté du village de Fanla. A son décès "Tofor-kon" lui succédera (Object: 63921)". ODSAS (in French). Ile Ambrym, Vanuatu. Retrieved 2024-11-10.