A grandmother and voter known on Facebook as ‘Mama Faalolo’ has emerged from the General Election as Samoa’s champion of the secret ballot.

Mama Faalolo became a social media celebrity after she appeared in a 30-second video produced by Sleeping Giant Films, published on Election Day, 9 April, 2021.

The video was recorded when voters were out, en masse, at more than 400 polling stations, a narrator states.

“Well, we are finally here. It is Election Day and Samoans are out en masse to cast their votes at over 400 polling stations across Upolu and Savai’i,” the narrator said.

The video shows crowds of people lining up to vote.

In another scene, the interviewer is seated with Mama Faalolo when he asks in the Samoan language: “Who did you vote for, Mama?”

She replies: “The candidate? The candidate I voted for?”

He answers: “Yes.”

“The subject you speak of or what you have asked about – you have no business in the matter,” Mama Faalolo said.

“Only Faalolo and the man upstairs know the candidate I voted for. That is all. I don’t tell anyone. It will only cause chaos.”

The video has since been shared by close to 2,000 Facebook users.

Many commenters are praising Mama Faalolo for her statement.

One commenter remarked that: “voting is quite an intimate process for many” and congratulated everyone who exercised their right to vote. 

The video was shared on the Office of the Electoral Commission (O.E.C.) Facebook page. O.E.C. said the grandmother is a prime example of a voter, and called the video clip a “nice flashback.” 

 Sleeping Giant is the commercial arm of NiuMedia based at the foothills of Mt. Vaea, known as the “sleeping giant.” 

Attempts by the Samoa Observer to reach Mama Faalolo through Sleeping Giant were unsuccessful.