Culture took center-stage at the Mulifanu Primary School last week when they held their first Community Day.

The students highlighted the importance of their culture in their performance witnessed by parents, youths and matais of the village.  

“The idea was from the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture for all the schools to have a cultural day. The principal and the teachers then prepared all the students to have a community day. However, parents and matais and everyone in the village wanted to be involved because this is the first time this has ever happened,” village member, Samu Feilo told the Samoa Observer.

The students were divided into four groups - Teuila, Puataunofo, Mosooi and Aute – which symbolise flowers that signify their cultural identity. Their performances were judged by a three-member judging panel comprising school committee member Leulua’i Iti, women’s committee president Failelupe Pepe Su’a, and Ganaga Samoa teacher Aiga Viliamu. 

“These were the judges and in the four categories the students had to perform a ma’ulu’ulu, folafola ava, sulatoga, Samoan Myth, sāsā, folafola sua and the taupou and manaia.”

Feilo said the event will enable the children to familiarize themselves with Samoan culture and to give them confidence to participate in similar public events. 

“To ensure they are not afraid to perform in front of any one and most especially to teach our children about the cultural aspects of the fa’asamoa,” he added. 

The judges assessed the students’ performance and decided to award first place to Teuila, followed by Puataunofo, Moso’oi and Aute. 

“It was a beautiful day because everyone from the village was involved, from elderly people to the youngest member of the village,” Feilo said while adding that the Community will now become an annual event for the village.