It was described as a reward of perseverance when a book with 40 stories in the first bilingual collection containing prize-winning stories from the 2023 Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story competition for schools was launched on Friday.

The competition for school students ranging from Year Four to Year 13 started 15 years ago and was the brainchild of Samoa Observer, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, and Newspapers in Education Coordinator Marj Moore.

The competition was designed to improve literacy. After 15 years, 2025 was the only year the competition was not held because of the school closures. The competition returns next year.

Read below the keynote address of Chief Judge, Siafau Professor Sina Vaai and the vote of thanks by Samoa Observer Publisher Muliagatele.

Keynote address

Talofa lava – greetings to you all. For our prayer and invocation, we thank Mataafa Keni Lesa, and we also welcome, especially members of the diplomatic corps, sponsors, fellow judges, school Principals and teachers, Ms Margaret Silva and the RLS Museum team hosting us today, parents and other family members and most especially our young writers and students. We gather today on this very special occasion to launch this distinctive book with 40 stories in the first bilingual collection containing prize-winning stories from the 2023 Tusitala Short Story competition for schools ranging from year 4 to year 13. All of these published writers would obviously be 2 years older now and have moved up the ranks at school as well. 

It is my distinct privilege to comment on the history of this Competition as well as on the stories themselves and of course to acknowledge all those who have contributed to the fulfillment of this dream by the organisers which has been to uplift the voices of primary and secondary students of the nation, the youth of Samoa, to publish their stories, not only in the Samoa Observer newspaper, both online and in hard copy but also as a separate book, which is what we celebrate today.  

The Foreword by Marj Moore describes the genesis of the Competition 15 years ago, inspired by one of the most well –known, gifted, prolific and courageous writers of Samoa and champion of the free press, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, the then Editor in Chief of the Samoa Observer who asked her as the Newspapers in Education Coordinator to organise a story competition for the students of Samoa and Marj Moore as we all know, is an expert organizer, a dynamic, quietly efficient go getter. Thus, these two Co-Founders planted the seed in 2010 and this book is an admirable fruit of their perseverance. After 15 years of printing the winning entries in the NIE section of the Samoa Observer, which was in itself a great achievement, they have now moved to the next level of compiling a collection of selected short stories into a hard copy book for distribution and enjoyment. 

Whilst we acknowledge and appreciate the access to e-copies which allows the tusitala or writers of Samoa and all other countries to publish so much more easily worldwide, there will always be a place in the lives of those who love reading and books, hastag #booklovers4ever, for the hard copy of the books they treasure and collect. The cover is from a prize-winning painting entered into a local art competition some 30+ years ago, when the artist, Jarrett Malifa, currently the Digital Manager of the Samoa Observer, was seven years old. 

Over the last 15 years, the number of entries has grown, the highest number being up to 1500 entries, which, as Marj Moore states in the Foreword of the book, “is testament to the students’ desire to offer their views and opinions and to demonstrate their creative writing skills.” (p.9)

A big faamalo and faafetai tele lava must go out to the major sponsors and champions of literacy and our literary heritage, Samoa Stationery and Books (SSAB), Eveni Carruthers Ltd and Vodafone, who have continued to support the annual competition with their help in organising the competitions and prize-giving ceremonies and are vitally important in providing lucrative prizes which the students and Organisers (Samoa Observer Ltd) have greatly appreciated over the last 15 years. Whilst the prize winning entries were published every year in the Samoa Observer over several weeks, the idea to publish a book of the prize-winning entries had been discussed since 2019 and thanks to the University of Edinburgh, in particular the Professor of Post-colonial literatures from this University in Scotland, the birthplace of Robert Louis Stevenson, Professor Michelle Keown, funding was allocated for this publication which we launch today. 2023 was the 173rd anniversary of the birth of Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous Scottish Writer who made Samoa his home here at Vailima and who is buried nearby at the top of Mount Vaea and it was thus decided that the students be invited to choose one of Stevenson’s famous phrases as a starting point and impetus for the creative piece which they entered for the 2023 competition.     

The competition is also indebted to the Principals and teachers of the schools, in Upolu and especially Savaii, who encouraged their students to contribute short stories consistently and encouraged our young writers every year to make reading and creative writing a focus of their annual academic outputs. The judges and Organisers also wish to make particular mention of Marturion Su’a of Pesega LDS middle school, who won first prize in both English and Samoan language sections in 2023 and who will be honoured in a special way today. The collection contains entries from 14 primary schools and 10 secondary colleges across Samoa. I have been asked to point out that today we are presenting copies of these books to the 1st and 2nd prize-winners whose stories are published in the collection, and the judges, sponsors, other helpers and school Principals whose students have been acknowledged today will receive their copies at a later date. 

To conclude, I would like to thank in a special way the students who light up Samoa with their creativity and the judges who regularly give their time to complete a very difficult task with the increasing number of entries every year, as well as facing the challenge of choosing place-getters from these talented and inspirational young writers. Moreover, we are forever grateful to the Samoa Observer, especially the Editor in Chief, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa and the publisher and financial controller, Muliaga Jean Ash Malifa, for their commitment to promoting creative writing and providing opportunities for our young writers to share their stories and develop their God-given talents in this space. 

Words of gratitude– Muliaga Jean Malifa

Today, we don't just launch a book; we launch voices, dreams, and the enduring spirit of storytelling in Samoa. None of this would be possible without the deep and immense generosity and commitment of so many people and institutions.

A massive thank you to the University of Edinburgh, whose commitment made the physical printing of this beautiful book a reality. We are profoundly grateful for your partnership in bringing Samoan stories to the world standard.

Our work is fundamentally supported by those who believe in investing in the future of Samoa's youth and literature. A huge, warm faafetai to our sponsors, who have championed this competition over the years, including:

•            Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai – Owner & CEO, SSAB 

•            Rana Bose – CEO, Vodafone Samoa

•            Heather Ott – Eveni Carruthers

This competition lives and breathes because of the vision and determination of two people. I want to give a special, personal thank you to the lovely Majorie Moore for her ongoing support, who co-founded this competition back in 2010. And of course, I must recognise my husband, Savea Sano Malifa. He poured his heart into this competition alongside Majorie, and today, we send him all our love and warmest thoughts. His vision is the foundation of everything we do, and his enduring legacy continues to inspire every page we publish.

We must also salute the guardians of quality, our esteemed panel of judges: Sina Vaai, Momoe Von Reiche, and Donna Ioane. Thank you for the painstaking work of reading, debating, and selecting the finest entries. Your expertise is invaluable.

Acknowledging Peter Swaine and Winnie, thank you for joining us today. To Stephanie Wynne, the book editor, thank you for your hard work in putting together this book. To everyone who helped make this possible this year, please know that your tireless efforts do not go unnoticed. This book is a collective achievement.

Finally, I want to address the many schools and their principals who have participated in and encouraged the short story competition over the years. Your support is the engine of our future.

We must, however, offer a sincere apology that, due to the recent closure of schools caused by the serious public health concerns regarding Dengue Fever and other diseases that easily affect our children, we were regretfully unable to host the short story competition this year. The health and safety of our students must always come first. We look forward with great hope and dedication to continuing the competition in 2026.

Thank you to Margaret and the entire team at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum for providing this magnificent, historic venue. To host our writers and readers here, beneath the shadow of a literary giant, is truly an honour.

And to the man who has managed to keep this event on track—our host, our voice, and truly the best MC of the Samoa Observer, Mataafa Keni Lesa! Thank you for your incredible energy and your superhuman ability to keep a room full of writers quiet. 

Thank you all, and may these stories find their way into the hearts and minds of many.

Faafetai, faafetai tele lava.