Pivotal moments in Samoa's history, from the beginning to Independence
Life, customs and beliefs in Samoa before the missionaries arrived
In old Samoa, the gods lived here, amongst us
In old Samoa the gods lived amongst the people. They grew the food and sent the fish, brought the rain, attended births, settled disputes and scores and brought blessings - and curses - to the people
In old Samoa every family had guardian animals
This one is a Samoan story about spiritual connections. Every family had its own guardian aitu, or guardian spirit. The aitu was usually thought to live in a familiar creature or object.
In old Samoa, we set our year by the moon and palolo
In the old days, Samoans tracked the seasons by the moon and palolo. What we now know as Tau Masina had no fixed dates. Each month began with the new moon: masina fou. In Aotearoa, Matariki celebrates...
Discovering writers and historians, the scribes of Samoan history
He brought the printing press and left with a record of old Samoa
Written Samoa, part two. Before we read the old books, we should know who wrote them. John B. Stair came to Samoa in 1838 to run a printing press. He left with a record of old Samoa that waited more t...
The founder of Malua College is why we know so much about pre-Christian Samoa
He came because a missionary was murdered. He stayed more than forty years. The books he filled are why we can still read so much of what Samoa believed before Christianity.