Celebration of Samoan Language Week
Samoan language week celebrates our ways of knowing and our ways of being. It recognizes the shared culture, values, and beliefs that ground and affirm our place in the wider society. It acknowledges our shared heritage and embraces what it means to be 'Samoan.' Therefore, encapsulated in the Samoan language is an exploration of one's identity, something that is worthy of celebration.
Growing up in South Auckland, I was fortunate to be surrounded by elders, teachers, and knowledge holders who constantly spoke in Samoan. I attended Mangere College, a high school that offered the Samoan language as a subject. Here, I was privileged to get both practical and theoretical insight into the execution of the Samoan language and cultural practices. I am also part of the Onehunga Co-operating Parish (Samoan congregation), with Samoan as the prime communication language. These experiences are a constant reminder of how significant and vast the Samoan language is and how deeply ingrained fa'asamoa is in my everyday life.
During my studies at the University of Auckland, I explored Samoan terminologies in my creative practice. Concepts in Samoan are filled with multiple and complex meanings, many of which are difficult to express in English. I got the opportunity to examine concepts that influence my creative making and discuss the various implications embedded in them. These were reflected in my measina and the material that I used. Such experiences reflect the beauty of the Samoan language and how it is a major driving force in my creative process.
Like many other Pacific languages, I see the Samoan language as a life journey simply because the language in itself is intricate and profound, making the learning stages different for many peoples. Mastering the speaking abilities and understanding capabilities in this modern era comes with complexities, especially with the increase in technology with English at the focal point. For this reason, the celebration of Samoan language week is vital in providing an avenue for Samoan people to connect and reconnect, re-energize, and re-vitalize our unique ways of knowing and being.
Measina - Lave
My favourite measina is the lave. The lave is part of the structure that form the Tuiga (Samoan crown). The lave (like many measina) has undergone profound changes that reflect the opportunities or influences present in each era. The lave is the most adorned part of the Tuiga and it usually draws the audience's attention at first glance. The lave projects towards the sky, signalling a profound connection between the heavens and that of the earthly realm, making this measina special.
Measina in order of appearance:
Lave Salelesi
Lave Sapapali'i
Lave Nofoali'i
Reference: Si‘ilata, E. T. M. (2018). O Le Pale O Laei Samoa (Master’s thesis, University of Auckland).