WEEKLY REVIEW 311: SAMOAN INDEPENDENCE…UNITED NATIONS MISSION

Photograph taken on location in Samoa during filming by the National Film Unit (NFU) of the United Nations (UN) Mission visit in 1947. Related to ref. F768 ‘Weekly Review 311’ (1947). A delegation from the UN meet with the Paramount Chiefs of Samoa and the Fono a Faipule, among others, to determine the wishes of the people regarding independence from the New Zealand Trusteeship.

Exterior wide-shot showing the Mau o Pule (Mau Movement) leaders, chiefs (Ali'i - High Chiefs; Tulafale - Orators) and supporters seated outside in the sun [possibly outside the Government House of Samoa, Mulinu'u, Apia, during the welcome ceremony for the UN Mission]. Standing in the immediate foreground is the Tulafale (Orator), the Chief who will speak on behalf of everyone present. He is dressed in a formal manner, topless, with a Siapo (Tapa cloth) wrapped around his abdomen covering his waist down and an ula (necklace made out of [unidentified] materials). He holds the to'oto'o (staff) and fue (fly whisk), the props for oratory. Before he speaks e fa'afa ona ta le fua (he will throw the whisk back and forth over his shoulders four times) before letting it rest on his left or right shoulder.

All of the men are wearing the Mau uniform, an ie sulu (fabric worn with a belt, covering the abdomen and waist down) in navy blue with a white stripe. The orators who are sitting in the front of the group also wear their traditional formal attire over the Mau uniform to distinguish their status in the hierarchy system of Fa'asamoa (the Samoan way). The image is the same as ref. S4255.

Description kindly provided by Va'aomanū Pasifika (Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington) intern, To'aga Alefosio.