A’ufaga makes history in Fuataga

By Ilia L. Likou 12 May 2017, 12:00AM

Thousands of women from villages all over the country took part in the annual exhibition of ‘Ie Samoa yesterday morning at E.F.K.S. Hall, Sogi.

The event saw Womens’ Committees from many different villages display their fine mats, siapo and other handicrafts.

For this year; Sa’oao and Tama’ta’i from Aufaga Aleipata was the overall winner and made history in weaving 64 Tosi Tasi (strip one) ever since the exhibition was first started 13 years ago.

Aufaga’s President, Eseta Tulifau told the Samoa Observer that ‘where there is unity, there is always victory.’

“That’s the key to all the successful stories in our committee,” Mrs. Tulifau said.

“So, to God be the glory, for great things He hath done.

“To us, if we use our talents wisely, God will give us more, and to be honest, with 31 women in our committee, we did it because we worked together.

“I mean, unity is our strength, yes, when there is teamwork, wonderful things can be achieved.

Eseta believes that working together equals success.

“As you can see this morning, we are very happy and looking forward to passing on these talents to our children in the future.

“There’s always a saying that success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out, and that’s us when we first started.

“There were challenges but we always got back and kept making small steady progress each day.

“To all the mothers of Samoa especially the tapuaiga of our village at Aufaga, on behalf of our committee, thank you all.

“Happy Mothers’ Day!

Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele congratulated all the mothers who participated in this year’s fuataga.

The ten top winners in Upolu (weaving more than ten Tosi Tasi (strip one)) were: Sa’oao and Tama’itai Aufaga (64 Tosi Tasi), Teine o le Sina Lepa (16 Tosi Tasi), Teine o le Ana Sa’anapu (16 Tosi Tasi), Aiga sa Loau Faleula (14 Tosi Tasi), Falese’ela (14 Tosi Tasi), Lepā, Si’upapa Saleapaga, Faletua ma Tausi Aufaga and Faleula.

The Tosi Tasi top ten winners (weaving more than ten Tosi Tasi (strip one)) from Savai’i were Fogasavai’i (31 Tosi Tasi), Faletua Fa’ala Palaluli (25 Tosi Tasi), Pu’apu’a (20 Tosi Tasi), Salailua (15 Tosi Tasi) Saoao and Tama’ita’i Fa’ala (13 Tosi Tasi), Ini’ini Sataua, Patamea, Pu’apu’a, Patamea and Falelima.

The winners for the siapo prizes were, Siutu, Sala’ilua, Lalomauga and Apai Manono Tai.

The best design for siapo went to Sala’ilua.

Recognition awards were for, Saoao and Tama’ita’i - Aufaga, Women’s Committe - Fogasavai’i, two male weavers; Lifoloa Pamata (Teine o le Sina – Lepa) and Tavita Viliamu (Fogasavai’i) and also to two young female weavers; Siniva Natia (Fogasavai’i) and Alice Ikenasio (Faleula).

By Ilia L. Likou 12 May 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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