Punialava’a joins Samoan culture day celebration

By Adel Fruean 02 September 2018, 12:00AM

Samoan band Punialava’a paid a visit to Avele College as part of the Samoan culture day celebrated by the school. 

Founder of Punialava’a, Rev. Iosefa Lale Peteru is an old pupil and former teacher of the school and the eldest of his four children, Nanai Viellani Lale Peteru and his younger brother, Leluaipouomalo Punialava’a Lale Peteru, represented their group on their father’s behalf. 

 “It is really an honour for us to be part of this special day that highlights the significance of the Samoan culture,” Nanai said. 

“It’s amazing to see the young generation participate in promoting and upholding their culture through various aspects like traditional dancing. 

“We were invited to be here but not only that, we were honoured to be here, where our father attended school and later taught at this very school,” Leluaipouomalo said.

School principal, Matafeo Seinafolava Matafeo said it is a golden opportunity for them to have Punialava’a representatives with them.

“The theme for this year’s culture day is O le Aganuu O Lau Oloa Taua (Culture is your most prized possession).  

I believe that our culture plays a key role in shaping the lives of the young generations, due to our cultural aspects such as respect serves as a good example set for students to uphold and live with peacefully with other schools,” Matafeo said. 

“The reason this theme was chosen was because our school intends to reclaim its glory days and be a new better version. We would like to set the record straight that this is a new Avele, no more fighting, or any sorts of social problems.”

For this year, only Years 9-11 are competing in four categories which are: Ma’ulu’ulu (traditional dance), Fa’ataupati (slap dance), contemporary dances, and lastly traditional plays.

Matafeo said they were divided into four different colors, which include blue named after Vaea, while the red is Toaula, in the green was Laumaalili and yellow is Puataunofo.

He added Years 12 and 13 did not participate in this year’s event because of their obligations towards the Samoa Nei Galo festival, which is a competition between schools based on various Samoan cultural aspects.

By Adel Fruean 02 September 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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