Tolai
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The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea. They are ethnically close kin to the peoples of adjacent New Ireland and are thought to have migrated to the Gazelle Peninsula in relatively recent times, displacing the Baining people who were driven westwards.
The majority of Tolais speak Kuanua as their first language (~100,000). Two other languages are also spoken as first languages: Minigir and Bilur, each with approximately 2,000 speakers.
They almost universally define themselves as Christian and are predominantly Roman Catholic and United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Prominent Tolais
- Sir Rabbie Namaliu (former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea)
- Sir Paulias Matane (Governor General of Papua New Guinea)
- Sir Henry ToBaining (former Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea)
- Sir John Kaputin
- George Telek (singer)
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