Fakatalofa atu,
In celebration of Tuvalu language week (27 September – 3 October 2015) we have installed four Tala o Tuvalu, Stories of Tuvalu newspapers in our Te Kākano display case. The theme for this year is ‘Tau gana ko tou iloga – Your language is your identity’. Seipua O'Brien wrote both the English and Tuvalu language labels.
![\u003cem\u003eTala o Tuvalu\u003c/em\u003e, Aokuso/August 1952.]()
Tala o Tuvalu, Aokuso/August 1952.
Auckland War Memorial Museum – Tāmaki Paenga Hira. AP7.7 T88 TAL.
Tala o Tuvalu (Stories of Tuvalu)
Tala o Tuvalu was the newspaper in the Tuvaluan language when Tuvalu and Kiribati formed the British colony known as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The issues of the paper on display are from 1950 to 1953.
You could say this newspaper was an early example of true 'citizen journalism' – all the articles and illustrations were submitted by Tuvaluans who wanted to share their stories with the wider community. This meant that every issue of the paper was unique, with no particular system of organisation. News stories and articles of the islands and of the world were included for all Tuvaluans to enjoy.
Not unlike blogs posts of today, the content of the paper ranged far and wide. In these issues, for instance, there are myths and legends, words of wisdom, poems, community notices, shipping schedules, and many other subjects of topical importance to the people of Tuvalu.
Tala o Tuvalu
Tala o Tuvalu
‘Tala o Tuvalu’ ko te nusipepa i te gana Tuvalu i taimi ne fakatasi ei a Tuvalu mo Kilipati mai lalo o Peletania, i te Kolone a Kilipati mo Elise. A lomiga konei e fakasau atu ko lomiga mai i te 1950 ki te 1953.
I nusipepa konei e fakaata i ei te vaega pukegatala tela e aofia i ei a tino o te fenua. Me i tala mo ata katoa i loto i te nusipepa ne foaki mai ne so se tino Tuvalu, tela e talia ne ia ke fakaoko atu tena tala io me ko tena ata ki tino katoa. Tena foki te sua mea e sala kese i ei a te nusipepa tenei me seai se fakavasegaga tumau ki tena fakatokaga. A tala, ata mo nisi fakasalalauga o te atufenua mo te lalolagi e pulutaki katoa i loto mo tino faitau.
E sili kese foki mai tusiga tala o aso nei, me i mataupu i loto i te nusipepa tenei e se fakanafa. Penei mo lomiga konei e fakasau atu, e aofia i loto i ei ko tala taumua, muna o te poto mo muna fesoasoani, kupulagi, fakapulaga, alaga vaka mo nisi mataupu i ei kola ne aoga ki tino Tuvalu.
Ke manuia te vaiaso.