The Samoan people are a diverse and dynamic culture with a rich history and a strong sense of pride. From the beautiful rhythms of the traditional choral songs to the timeless art of story-telling, to their age-old martial arts practices, the Samoans share a deep connection to their past and continue to honor and celebrate their cultural heritage today.
Manu’s Song: A Choral Tradition Dating Back Thousands of Years.
Manu’s song is a traditional form of choral singing believed to have been brought over to Samoa over four thousand years ago. It features synchronized vocal glissandi and elaborate rhythmic hand movements and head nodding, creating an almost hypnotic effect on those who hear it. Rare in its ability to connect the audience to their cultural roots, Manu’s Song still continues today in villages around the islands, leaving all listeners bewitched by its powerful beauty.
Manu’s Song, also known as ta fa’atulafono o le Tuiga o Manu, is an entry to the UNESCO oral repertoire list and features two alternating choirs of typically eight men and eight women singing in four-part harmony. The incredible vocal control of the singers, sometimes coasting for half an hour through changing rhythms and pitch, creates a feeling of unity amongst the listeners and encourages them to reflect on their Samoan roots. It reinforces our sense of belonging to something larger than just one person, whilst connecting us with our cultural traditions from thousands of years ago.
Manu’s Song tells the story of an ancient Samoa love affair that has become almost mythical. While the exact origins are unknown, the song embodies both a deep heritage and pride for the Samoa people and enables singers to evoke certain emotions amongst their listeners. By nurturing this tradition we can help to keep alive the bond with our ancestors and honor our culture, which is integral in preserving our identity as Samoans.
Manu’s song is a choral tradition that dates back thousands of years and remains popular within the Samoa community today. It is often sung in many festivals or gatherings, bringing people together to share an experience unique to Samoa culture. The music and lyrics combine with voices that echo and entwine in a harmonious chant, allowing listeners to connect and identify closely with their classical Samoan heritage. Manu’s Song has the power to stimulate emotions such as love, respect, and sadness through its thematic structure, beautifully capturing listeners’ hearts. This rare example of our island’s rich culture has helped keep alive the spirit of ancient Samoa and will continue to do so for generations to come.
The Samoan language is also a notable feature of this beautiful art form as it lends itself perfectly as an accompaniment to such music. Its complex tonal structure and call-and-response method can create a passionate atmosphere, where voices capture the very essence of our traditional home. Manu’s Song has been passed down through many generations and contains both lyrics and tales reflective of the Samoa people’s life journey. As well as being performed by families during gatherings, Manu’s Song has even been adopted by some artists in more modern recordings to give it a contemporary feel. It is a reminder of the powerful connection that Samoa people have with their culture, allowing them to remain firmly grounded in their ancestral heritage.
Manu’s Song is a traditional form of Samoan choral singing, where singers sing in unison delivering both intricate harmonies and solemn refrains. It is usually accompanied by percussive instruments such as the lali or log drum, ta’aloga or slit gong, au or susu and pulou or conch shells. The music itself draws from the culture’s strong sense of rhythm and astonishing vocal range, creating a powerful sound that unites all those listening.
Faga, or the Ancient Art of Story-Telling.
Throughout history, storytelling has been a way for people to encourage imagination and stimulate discussion of important cultural values and issues. Faga is an ancient art form in Samoa that features captivating oral accounts of historic battles or folklore. Stories are necessarily vivid, playing on the audience’s emotions, and often include aspects of drama and humor to bring the narrative to life. This continues to be a popular form of entertainment in villages across Samoa today.
Faga normally has a narrator, known as a tufuga, who establishes the setting and characters of the story before launching into his singing and chanting. This musical element is integral to the performance and enables the audience to become increasingly involved in the narrative. The chorus of children watching often follows along and sings with the tufuga as they narrate larger parts of their story. Consequently, Faga serves to pass on age-old values from generation to generation and keeps alive significant Samoan histories and heritage.
Faga is generally conducted outside either in the evening or late at night and can go on for several hours. This form of storytelling is made fascinating through its hypnotic music and call-response audience refrain, which keeps everyone captivated as they learn ancient Samoan values. Despite the impact of technology on modern Samoan culture, Faga continues to be widely practiced throughout the islands today, giving communal laughter and connection to generations both young and old.
Faga, derived from the word fagin meaning storyteller, is unique to the Samoa people and is an integral part of their cultural heritage. Storytellers are mainly elderly men who are respected for their knowledge in Samoan traditions and legends, which they often teach through singing or chanting these stories in a call-and-response style. In addition to reading classic oral literature, it’s also common for Samoan storytellers to speak about recent events and newsworthy topics. The overall objective of Faga is not only to amuse but also to educate their audience on the importance of hard work, respect towards elders, and showing hospitality.
To prepare for their performance, Storytellers must have their audience present to observe the Faga and get ready by making offerings of food and traditional Samoan clothing. During the performance, a storyteller will explain the history behind a particular theme or proverb that is important to Samoa’s cultural heritage. Faga performances usually last up to 3 hours, with some workshops lasting even longer. Its resilience as an oral tradition makes Faga timeless as it continues to be shared between generations in schools and communities across Samoa. Nowadays, most young Samoans may attend a Faga as part of their educational or cultural experience both abroad and locally in order to recognize and preserve these ancient stories and teachings passed down generations over centuries.
Traditional Samoan Martial Arts, Fa’amatai and Fa’asamoa.
Two traditional martial arts of Samoa, Fa’amatai and Fa’asamoa, have been practiced for many generations. The former is more commonly performed during ceremonial events such as village gatherings or in the presence of high-ranking members of society. Lipine (ritual sports) plays an integral part in Fa’amatai’s distinctive style and technique, which involve symbolic movements and expressions to depict a legendary story or account. On the other hand, the latter is mostly used for traditional practical self-defense from enemies or intruder attacks instead of purely sporting activities.
Fa’amatai and Fa’asamoa have been passed down from ancient generations to the present, providing Samoan people with skills that have seen them become powerful defenders of their land. In recent years, however, some of the traditional aspects of both forms (most particularly in the Lipine section) have been lost. This has led to a decline in their popularity within modern society. Increasing efforts are being made by practitioners and members of Samoa’s martial arts community to revive these lost elements in order to preserve the art form for current and future generations.
Fa’amatai and Fa’asamoa are Samoan martial arts forms consisting of two main divisions, Lipine and Katoaga. The Lipine division includes elements of unarmed combat and weapons training such as stick fighting (Toto Faigai) and spear fighting (Uma). The Katoaga division employs a more defensive style whereby practitioners use their bodies to defend against attacks while simultaneously delivering counters. Over the centuries these forms have been fine-tuned to provide the most efficient ways to deter attackers without harm being done. In modern times competing tournaments for both divisions have increased in popularity; however, their dual objectives of self-defense and preserving the art form remain unchanged.
The Samoan martial arts are a source of pride and identity for the people, with each family traditionally having their own form – or Sogi Sagala – based on country of origin, with some being particularly specific to certain villages. Although originally designed for wartime survival it is now widely accepted that the main purpose of Fa’amatai and Fa’asamoa is to protect life and respect all living things – something we could all benefit from taking a bit more seriously in our lives.
Unique Samoan Tattooing Practices and Their Representations of Nature.
Tattooing is an integral part of the Samoan culture, as it dates back centuries! Men and women of this society have tattoos etched into their skin to showcase their rank in society and artistic sense. Different colors of tattoos also represent different aspects of nature, such as blue symbolizing water or the yellow representing fire. Additionally, fascinating geometric patterns are used to represent various gods and mythical creatures in their tales – all while signifying strength, endurance, and fortitude with each stroke.
Apart from being beautiful, these tattoos and symbols also carry significant meanings. For example, the traditional malu is a full-body tattoo worn by females, to represent beauty and lore – while Samoan males received soga’imiti tattoos, which are primarily facial markings that signify power and courage. By looking at their tattoos, one can immediately tell a person’s standing in their culture and community. In addition, war chiefs wore intricate designs to mark their leadership role in society. To this day, the men of Samoa continue to don unique tattoos to depict their different status roles in the community.
Samoan traditional tattoos are reportedly one of the most painful and bloodiest body art to receive due to their tribal aboriginal techniques. Instead of being done with an electric needle, it’s done with a pig or turtle bone and ink made from soot, burnt wood, and coconut oil pounded together. This method is seen as sacred and spiritual by many Samoans- and these traditional practices hold very deep cultural meanings in Polynesian culture. Most tattoos have symbolic meanings that could be reminiscent of a person’s life stories, such as natural occurrences or reminders of significant family members and events.
Samoan tattoos feature nature heavily, symbolizing different creatures both in and out of the sea. Within Samoan tattoos, a variety of fish and animal symbols can be seen alongside mythical creatures, mostly from their ancient creation stories such as the tui m’fana (winged dragon) and the pe’a-‘aiman (crocodile). Elsewhere, spearheads and weapons represent enormous strength, sunshine is to represent power and courage, and sun rays for protection. Each pattern typically has its own symbolism- but all Samoan tattoos provide a spiritual connection between people and nature. Even though all tattoo designs are unique representations of culture, they are also tied to their Polynesian ancestry.
Tattooing wasn’t just used for decoration or story telling-although these are also huge themes throughout Samoan culture. For the indigenous people living in Samoa, tattoos once had a more serious purpose. Receiving a tattoo was a huge commitment and a deal of respect to customs and ancestors alike. For example, many young men went through a ‘passage’ experience by receiving tattoos as both spiritual and physical preparedness for their transition into adulthood. It is still practiced among many Samoan communities today, which adds even more meaning to the underlying history of these tattooed designs.
Tattoos were also used to commemorate significant events and represent blooming relationships with family, friends, or royalty. This can still be seen in traditional Samoan artwork. Geometric tattooing was also a medium of self-expression throughout many various cultures, by representing beliefs or affirming status as symbolic replication of natural elements like turtles or ocean waves adorning their bodies. It is important to remember the deeper meaning behind these practices and respect the culture that gave rise to them today.
Tattoos, also known as tatau, are an important part of Samoan culture and are used for many occasions of spiritual or ceremonial importance. There is a process to receiving the tattoo including applying different all-natural dyes, and tapping the colored dye under the skin with a comb tool called au. This technique creates beautiful, yet painful pieces. The process serves to represent sacred cultural values that define identity and status within the community like strength, courage, loyalty, and more. The message behind them served not only to strengthen communities but also allowed the passing of knowledge and understanding from generation to generation in an oral society. As these practices still exist today they remain a cornerstone of Samoan culture and continue to be respected by its people.
Efate Revelry: Celebrating Life with Music and Dance Performance.
To demonstrate their passion for life, the people of Samoa engage in energetic and spirited performances. Efate Revelry is an elaborate ceremony of music, song, and dance accompanied by a parade of traditional costumes making it a spectacle to behold! These performances feature carefully choreographed sequences showcasing complex Polynesian dances, which often utilize hand-carved instruments and are accompanied by thunderous drum beats adding to the upbeat atmosphere.
This ritual of dance and music is central to the Samoa culture, with Efate Revelry being held year-round as a form of celebration. It serves as an opportunity for intergenerational exchange and learning, revitalizing the national tradition by encouraging young participants to take part in cultural customs. Experienced performers demonstrate intricate steps while giving their own interpretation of their people’s identity through an expression of joy and pride. Every participant brings their own flair and life to these live performances that are meant to be enjoyed – and even participated in – by outside spectators!
Siva is one of the traditional dance types performed during Efate Revelry, featuring pairs of dancers in the casual adaptation of ta’alolo steps and choreography. Siva expresses the importance of living harmoniously and appreciating both past and present life together as a group, and weddings, birthday celebrations, party dances, and funerals are all marked with vibrant siva performances that convey raw emotion. While drums or sometimes strings provide rhythmic music for accompaniment, energetic moves are always at the centre – making this traditional Samoan act an unforgettable experience!
Embodying the Samoan value of talanoa, or developed oral and communicative rhythms, Siva dancers aim to bring together communities for a shared experience. Each contribution is appreciated during siva performances. Even passers-by are invited not to spectate but participate by clapping and laughing in a communal celebration of life. Songs are sometimes improvized with lyrics that highlight current events or issues – painting stories that weave the lives of all involved with each song, dance step and conversation.
Siva is a communal form of expression that originates from the Samoa people. It utilizes folk songs, creative movements and musical instruments such as ukuleles, druken drums and toselbras – an handmade instrument similar to the guitar. Dancers incorporate elegant hand gestures, playful footwork, with their unique dress style of lava-lavas (traditional wrap skirts) and elaborative headdresses with coconut leaves called fiafia. The celebratory atmosphere which siva performances create serves as more than mere entertainment – it has a much deeper spiritual connection; one with roots in daily life, culture, and ritual for Samoans past and present.