Dear Editor

Re: Samoa must decide what fa’asamoa means, together

Modernity and the traditional fa’asamoa cultural settings have their contextual relevance from either a historical perspective which maybe considered best preserved in our past, from that of our traditional cultural settings, as likened to the contemporaries whom lived through those times. 

We all progress throughout time, we do not have dial phones, nor have phone booths in most western societies, the chair was invented for a specific functional purpose, Japanese cultural traditions would not accept anyone sitting in a chair in a traditional Japanese traditional house. 

However, in a Corporate Japanese Zaibatsu system, a suit and tie and corporate settings will dispense of the traditional attire, garbs, and tea ceremonies of the Bushido cultural rituals of the Samuri Japanese traditions.

In Samoan society, the clash of cultural traditions must be considered in a similar vein, as the comparable Japanese cultural settings.

We are well aware of modernity and all the modcons associated with this quality of life. We are also aware of our traditional cultural settings as well which is not particularly a conflicting juxtaposition with the traditional fa’asamoa ways and traditions.

There is no conflict at all, there is an acknowledgement of both Fa’asamoa and modern day living that we will simply assimilate into the Samoan lifestyle, whilst we should never shun nor forget our cultural traditions we do need to accept the modernity and simply integrate modernity to the Fa’asamoa way.

It;s a no brainer moot here.

As a side note, I was studying Samoan history in Samoa with Ioane Lafoa’i and Professor Aiono Fanaafi back in 1988-89, unfortunately, for myself, I was not privileged to ever make the acquaintance of Tagaloatele Professor Dunlop. 

It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge a highly valued Samoan academic, but, I am a bygone era as well and have lived very much under a rock for all this time.

Ia soifua, ma ia manuia le fa’asoa i luga o le Samoa Observer.

Timoteo Tufuga