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 mid-shot capturing the taulele'a (untitled men) and aumaga (young men of the village) running to their position for the performance. This is called tamo'e or tamo'emo'e i totonu, which is an act of entering a space by running at a certain pace before a performance. The young men are seen wearing a uniform, topless with a small ula lei (necklace made out of flowers), a titi (materials tied around their waist with strands of material attached to it) and small coconut pieces as ankle bracelets.

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