Guardian & Keeper of Samoan Indigenous Knowledge: Passing It On

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circa 1895: King Malietoa Laupepe of Samoa ( – 1898) (Photo by Davis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

By Vienna Richards

After reading a speech by Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi, given at the NZ Families Commission meeting earlier this month, I decided it was high time for his  Highness’ works, and his writings, to be made more easily available to every Samoan, particularly the rising generation of young people searching to know.

So, every weekend, check into pacificEyeWitness.org to read and enjoy from the writings of one of Samoa’s last remaining scholars, historians, thought leaders and thinkers.

Tui Atua is, in fact, our present-day King of Samoa.  And as one of Pacific pioneers in literature has pointed out, Tui Atua’s background, his upbringing, makes him unique in Samoan history:

….because he was, is, and continues to be a unique fusion of many traditions, historical circumstances, upbringing, education, and two languages. Because he is a master of Samoan and English he has been able to give us his vision in both languages. That…has also helped us understand…and allows people, who are not fluent in Samoan, to have access to his work.
Albert Wendt, 2008
Foreword
Su’esu’e Manogi In Search of Fragrance

Wendt notes an equally significant point that bears repeating:

Tui Atua is probably the last Tamaaiga to have had the classical upbringing of an aloalii in faaSamoa: his parents and aiga elders ensured that he was taught and raised by some of Samoa’s leading tuua, orators, poets, song makers, storytellers, historians, and keepers and guardians of ‘Samoan indigenous knowledge’.

He was also raised in an aiga which fought for Samoa’s independence: his grandfather Ta’isi Nelesoni was the leader of the Mau and suffered for it; his uncle Tamasese Lealofi III, was killed fighting for independence; his father and mother were leaders of the movement for self-government and independence and suffered for it. Tui Atua was raised and groomed for Tamaaiga status and national leadership. The new ingredients he has brought to that equation are his…knowledge of and learning of things Papalagi: history, politics, literature and art…and his love of the Samoan and English languages…

So, among my generation, Tui Atua is the most knowledgeable and passionate leader about “things Samoan.”

So while Tui Atua is living, we want to share his mind, and his wisdom with you. Without further ado, the following excerpt is a story from ancient history that explains the origins of a wise Samoan proverb used today:

E leai se gaumata’u, na o le gaualofa

What you do in the name of hatred will not survive
but what you do in the name of love will live forever.

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Title: To Be A Friend.

This point about the power of love as light and shield in times of darkness can be found in another story, a much older story in Samoan history, involving the people of Atua, a district area in Upolu, Samoa. The story involves a daughter who attempts to placate her father’s anger at her husband’s people, the people of Atua, by offering her life for theirs.

Tui Atua Fepuleai married the daughter of Tagaloa Funefeai, the most powerful chief in his day. In the reciprocal exchange of gifts at the nunu (a formal wedding ceremony usually the preserve of the highborn) the Tagaloa family were offended by what was perceived an insult regarding the main mat – ie faatupu (which is the principal gift by the bridal party). Offended the Tagaloa family left in a huff. Tagaloa Funefeai, once he had returned to the seat of his Malo, formally declared war on Atua.

When Tui Atua Fepuleai heard that Tagaloa Funefeai and his family were bent on war, he said to his new wife, “my people expected you to bring us shade (paolo), to provide us with protection; instead you bring us death, destruction and grief. Please go to your father, beyond the borders of Atua, to intervene and placate his wrath.”

His wife, whose name was Utufaasili, loved her husband dearly, responded with heavy heart, “I shall do as you say and cross the borders of Atua to intervene on your people’s behalf and plead with my father for mercy and grace. If I fail I will not return. I have no reason to live. I am with-child and would rather perish than bear the shame of destroying the inheritance of my husband and child.”

Utufaasili crossed the Atua borders and went to stay in Letogo, the village of her mother, just outside of Atua. Scouts were sent out to strategically placed points in Letogo to look-out for Tagaloa Funefeai and his war fleet.

Once the fleet was sighted, the lali drummers were to signal the people of Letogo of its approach. When the lali drums sounded, Utufaasili and her retinue were put out to sea in canoes known as soatau.

When they approached the foremost vessel in the vanguard of the fleet, an officer from within called out to Utufaasili’s party to identify themselves.

Utufaasili called back, “I am Utufaasili, daughter of Tagaloa, I want audience with my father”.

The officer called back, “Tagaloa is travelling in his flagship Pualele, which is at the very end of our fleet formation”.

Utufaasili and her retinue proceeded towards Pualele.

When they reached the flagship, another officer called out, “Who are you? What is your mission?”

Utufaasili called out again, “I am Utufaasili, daughter of Tagaloa, I want an audience with my father”.

When permission was granted, Utufaasili and her retinue boarded the flagship. One of her retinue laid out a special mat, known as the ie sina, literally ‘white mat’.

She walked across and knelt on the mat before her father. Her retinue then covered her with one of their finest mats.

This ritual act is the ifoga, performed when pleading for pardon because of grave wrong and performed with the knowledge that one may lose his/her life if the plea was not accepted.

Tagaloa commanded his escort to take away the fine mat covering Utufaasili.

Once that was done he asked her, “Why have you come like this”?

She replied, “I have come to plead for Atua and I offer my life for their redemption”.

He asked: “Why do you come instead of the people of Atua?”

She answered: “Because they fear you and it was decided that I would be a better emissary”.

Tagaloa then turned to the leaders of his war party and asked, “What do you say”?

They responded, “The die is cast!”

Tagaloa turned to Utufaasili and said: “You have heard the verdict”.

Weeping and touching her womb, she cried softly: “My father, look at me, I am with-child. If you destroy Atua you will destroy not only the inheritance of my husband but the inheritance of my child. On behalf of my unborn child, I call on you to please spare his people”.

Utufaasili then states the famous Samoan saying: e leai se gaumata’u, na o le gaualofa, meaning: what you do in the name of hatred will not survive, but what you do in the name of love will live forever.

Tagaloa Funefeai moved by his daughter’s words and willingness to sacrifice herself in protection of her husband’s inheritance and that of their unborn child then replied: “Notwithstanding my anger with Atua, I hear what you say and I will spare them”.

The one thing that redeems, eases and/or soothes hurt, anger, hate, pain or depression is the ability to find and believe in love, notwithstanding…

Excerpt: Keynote Address
Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi
Head of State of Samoa
LifeLine Pasifika Conference, Apia, Samoa
16 August 2009