Lau susuga ile Taitai o le Sauniga, Rev. Elder Vaiao Eteuati
Afifio Afioga i Minisita o le Kapeneta,
Minisita Lagolago, Faipule ole Maota
Afifio le Pulega o le Matagaluega o A’oga & Aganu’u,
Afifio le pa’ia maualuga o le Aumalaga Filifilia a Samoa mo le Fa’aaliga o Tu & Aganu’u i Hawai’i 2024.
Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e māmā.
Ua tupapa manū e pei o le fetalaiga i le fale o Itu’au ma Alataua. O lea ua mae’a ona fusifusi lapalapa o malõ ma momoli la’au i Foga’a, e fa’afetaia ai le agalelei fa’asoa o lo tatou Atua soifua, ina ua tatou
feiloa’i manuia i lenei taeao.
O pa’ia o Samoa, o le a nu’unu’u atu ia fa’atini o tausala ia Tumua ma Pule ma le la fatuaiga tausi.
O lenei taeao ma le afifio mai o le tatou Malo, o tulaga aloa’ia ma
tulaga ua masani ai, pe a masi’i ni o tatou tagata i fa’amoemoega
tetele fa’apenei. E fai ai au ma sui o le tatou Malo, e momoli atu sa
matou tala ma se upu fa’amanuia.
O le Fa’aaliga o Tu & Aganu’u a le Pasefika 2024, o se fa’amoemoe ola ma se taumafaiga lelei lea mo atunu’u laiti o le Pasefika, ina ia fa’aolaola, fa’aauau le fa’atinoina o tu ma aganu’u, ma fa’alauiloa tu ma aganu’u mamalu a atunu’u o le Pasefika. E le taumate le tele o aganu’u o le Pasefika ua tauāu ina mou ma gase lilo atu, ona o le malosi o galufati o suiga ma tu ma aga mai fafo. O le va’aiga taula’i foi lena o le tatou Malo ua tula’i mai, pei ona iai i lana Ta’iala mo le Lumana’i Manuia o Samoa e fa’apea: “Ia fa’asaoina la tatou aganu’u ma ia toe fa’aolaola ma fa’aauau le fa’atinoga o Tu, Aganu’u ma Agaifanua fa’a-Samoa.”
O lenei va’aiga taula’I, ua le gata i tu ma aga faasamoa, ae e a’afia ai
fo’i ma le fa’atinoga o fa’afiafiaga, lalagaina o measina, taina o le tatau Samoa, atina’eina o taleni male fa’atufugaina o pese, fatuga o musika ma siva, tusia ma fa’aaliga o tala fa’aleaganu’u ma tala fou.
O le sao tāua lena o le auai atu o le tatou Aumalaga, ia aoga lenei
avanoa e fa’alauiloa ma fa’ailoa atu ai i le Pasefika ma le lalolagi atoa o le a autova’a atu i Hawai’i, o Samoa ose atanu’u e pito i la’ititi lava i le fa’afanua o le lalolagi, ae o lo’o soifua i se aganu’u ola. O le tāua foi o lenei fa’atasiga, ia fefa’asoaa’i ai talitonuga, o manatu ma lagona, aemaise tomai ma silafia i vaega ese’ese o le aganu’u, e fesoasoani i tatou taumafaiga e fa’asao ma fa’aolaola le tatou aganu’u mai le mou pe galo atu fo’i.
Ua fa’amanuia le tatou Tamā Fa’ale-Agaga malōlō manumalo, e ala i
le tatou sauniga i lenei taeao, o se fa’amanuia foi lena a le tatou Malo.
O le a outou masi’i e fai outou ma avefu’a a Samoa i le fa’aaliga tele a le Pasefika i Tu ma Aganu’u, aua o le fatu lea o so’o se Samoa, o lana Aganu’u. Ia outou fa’alauiloa ma le mamalu Tu ma Aganu’u, ina ia ‘aua ne’i vaiavea i le silasila ma le maimoa a le lalolagi.
Ia outou folau ma le fa’atuatua, folau ma manuia o tatalo a o tatou
tamā ma tinā matutua ma Samoa atoa, o lo’o latou po le fala ma ula le i’ulā, ina ia manuia lo outou masi’i atu. Fa’atasi ai male tapuaiga a lo tatou malo ma Samoa atoa, o outou māmā na! Ia auai ma mafutaina outou e le Agaga o le Ali’i, lo outou folau atu, lau afioga ile Minisita o A’oga ma Aganu’u, Minisita Lagolago, le ta’ita’i malaga ma le tou aumalaga atoa, tautai Ieova i outou ala uma.
Ia manuia le faigamalaga.
SOIFUA MA IA MANUIA!
Rev Elder Vaiao Eteuati
Honorable Ministers of Cabinet
Associate Ministers and Members of Parliament of Samoa
Management and Staff of the Ministry of Education and Culture
Selected members of Samoa Delegation to the Pacific Festival
of Arts and Culture in Hawaii 2024.
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
As Acting Prime Minister, I extend warm greetings on behalf of the
Hon. Prime Minister and Government of Samoa. It is our solemn duty to recognize any official delegation representing Samoa on the international stage.
I extend heartfelt congratulations to all those selected to represent our nation at the Pacific Festival of Arts and Culture in Hawaii. This event stands as a testament to the evolving cultural landscape of small island nations in the Pacific. It serves as a platform to rejuvenate and preserve our cultural heritage, showcasing the richness of Pacific cultures and traditions. It’s an opportunity to tell the world that Samoa is a living culture. A culture you will proudly display with passion and meaning at the highest level.
The focus of the government stated in its guidance for a better Samoa is “Preserve our culture and to revive and sustain the practices of culture, traditions and the Samoan way”
Your government is committed to promoting cultural arts, preserving the treasures of Samoa and its way of life along with the development of talents in the performing, visual and the creative arts. Therefore, our delegation’s presence at this festival is paramount.
We acknowledge the concerns surrounding the potential erosion of
cultural practices due to contemporary influences, often referred to as the “influence of papalag.” My message to you is “there is nothing wrong with that, if you know who you are”. If you can separate what is Samoan and what is Palagi. We won’t have a problem.
This festival provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate that
Samoa’s culture is vibrant and thriving. It is also an occasion for cultural exchange, allowing us to learn from and share with others, thereby safeguarding and revitalizing our own traditions.
The blessings of Rev. Elder Eteuati resonate with us, reinforcing our
commitment to this endeavor. As representatives of Samoa, each
member of the delegation carries the cultural legacy of our country.
Therefore, I urge you to embrace this responsibility with pride, be
proud and showcase who you are, to the best of your ability, and be mindful of the Samoan flag you carry.
May your journey be safe, knowing that your country stands behind
you, praying for your well-being as you represent Samoa and its
people. May divine guidance accompany you throughout your
endeavors and bring you all back home safe.
Thank you.
Photos by Ministry of Education Sports and Culture Samoa
