For the People - By The People
Recently local artists Saytruegod? and Stanley T recognised there wasn't anything happening for the community on the North Side of Brisbane and decided to do something about it.
Many Pasifika businesses and artists helped out contributing money, food, boxing fitness, helping out with the bbq, fun activities and more.
Staytruegod? said he was inspired by the 43 boys (Lisi, Lawd Lance, AmuTheMC, Nokz78, Th4 W3st - well known music artists in Australia) who hold similar community events in their area ... For the People, By the People
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Credits:
Koko Samoa - Creating New Traditions
As part of her Cacao and Kofe retreats she runs on Ms Sunshine Farms for tourists and locals, Chocolate Creator Floris Niu is transforming the way Samoans think about Koko Samoa - imparting her knowledge and experience in growing and processing cacao to creating new cooking traditions with her brand of organic Koko Samoa.
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Shot & Edited by Denisa Maňásková.
Narration & Story - Floris Niu
Producer - Liz Ah Hi
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* This content has been developed with support funding from the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR)
“Reclaiming our tongue”: Super Rugby speaking Samoan
By Lefaoali'i Dion Enari
Seeing the Samoan language spoken on prime time television was a proud moment for all Samoans around the world. Although we see many brown faces on the Super Rugby field, very rarely do we hear our language in these spaces.
Growing up watching rugby on T.V, the only time I would see our language, was either during snippet crowd shots or when the Manu Samoa Captain would speak. These instances would generally be from Island born Samoans who felt more comfortable speaking in their first language and knowing that in doing so, they would be reaching out to the elders and every proud Samoan, at home and across the globe.
Now, there is an influx of New Zealand and Australian born Samoan rugby players’ reclaiming their mother tongue. Many of this group were raised speaking English as a first language, with little to no formal education in Samoan. Despite this, many in this group still value its importance.…more
MEET THE VALU FAMILI: 'BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A'
Get to know the Valu famili from the first ever Tongan language drama series: 'Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a'
The full series premieres here tomorrow night on the CoconetTV
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Soane Valu
Played by Joe Folau
Soane, the ‘Shark’ Valu was the hope of the South Pacific. Twenty years ago, the Tongan boxer had the world at his feet and the hopes and dreams of the whole Pacific until it all came crashing down when he lost the challenge for the World Heavyweight title. Too embarrassed to return to Aotearoa, Soane hid away in America for 20 years until he is confronted by his father’s spirit. Soane returns home for his father but is too late. He’s rejected by his three kids he left behind and his angry sister. But his problems run far deeper when he discovers the family’s curse and the spirit that’s been tormenting him and his family. He must do what it takes to protect his loved ones.…more
SESILIA PUSIAKI: "BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A"
BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A
ACTOR PROFILE
SESILIA PUSIAKI
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Malo e lelei my name is Sesilia Pusiaki Tatuila daughter of Ahosivi and Asipesio Tatuila. My dad is from Lapaha and mum is from Atata. I’m the third eldest of five and was raised on the Northshore, Northcote. My mother and father were one of the founding members of the Tongan Catholic Community on the shore so being part of this wider Tongan community played a big role in my life growing up and even though we’ve moved to Onehunga my Northshore community and families will always be a part of me. My father taught Tongan faiva within the church there so singing, dancing and performing was a way of life for me so graduating from P.I.P.A empowered me to realise that being a Tongan performing artist is who I am. Did I also mention I’m a mother of five. Their numbers are eight/ six/ five/ two and nine months, as well as a partner that supports everything I do. I’m BLESSED.…more
SESILIA PUSIAKI: "BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A"
BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A
ACTOR PROFILE
SESILIA PUSIAKI
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Malo e lelei my name is Sesilia Pusiaki Tatuila daughter of Ahosivi and Asipesio Tatuila. My dad is from Lapaha and mum is from Atata. I’m the third eldest of five and was raised on the Northshore, Northcote. My mother and father were one of the founding members of the Tongan Catholic Community on the shore so being part of this wider Tongan community played a big role in my life growing up and even though we’ve moved to Onehunga my Northshore community and families will always be a part of me. My father taught Tongan faiva within the church there so singing, dancing and performing was a way of life for me so graduating from P.I.P.A empowered me to realise that being a Tongan performing artist is who I am. Did I also mention I’m a mother of five. Their numbers are eight/ six/ five/ two and nine months, as well as a partner that supports everything I do. I’m BLESSED.…more
KOLOHE KAI - Catching Lightning (Behind the Scenes)
Life is all about timing, whether it’s catching a wave, catching lightning, or catching true love, and that’s what this song is about.
This is a love song that really boils down to how you can wait you whole life for the right person, and when it finally happens it hits like lightning.
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Listen to Catching Lightning here
South Auckland Students March for Solidarity
Student March: A Display of Unity.
This afternoon a group of students from South and wider Auckland, are peacefully marching through Otahuhu in a display of inter-school solidarity to advocate against inter-school violence and display unity and harmony within our school communities. “We always are shown videos and news about students fighting or rivalries between schools but why does this occur? We need more projects and groups that specialise in actively reaching out to students about this issue.” Says 18 year old South Auckland Student March Organiser Theresa Viane.
The Student March, starting at 4:00pm, will be solely centred on the school student’s demand to raise awareness on ways to prevent school violence and eliminate stereotypes around South Auckland schools.
“We are standing for peace amongst schools and may it resonate in all we do so interschool violence can finally be eliminated. This school march sets a platform for not only current generations, but for future generations to invoke peace rather than violence, laughter rather than envy and love rather than hate.…more
JASON MANUMU'A: "BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A"
BRUTAL LIVES - MO'UI FAINGATA'A
ACTOR PROFILE
JASON MANUMU'A
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My parents arrived into New Zealand during the 70’s - fresh-faced and eager to find a living. They became part of a thriving Tongan church community in Onehunga in the 80’s, where I was born, before moving to Mangere Bridge where our family house stands til today. I count myself so blessed to have learned how to read, write and speak my Tongan language through Sunday school growing up - despite surviving the ‘passionate’ smacks & whacks, and the ‘loving’ stares & glares of numerous White Sundays - every Polynesian kids’ introduction to the performing arts lol!
The 90’s was a great time to be a teenager - great music, movies and no internet, no social media and you walked everywhere lol. However for me, I was shipped off back to Tonga almost every summer as a kid, while my parents worked.…more
“Witchdoctors” in lab coats: Reclaiming Samoa’s traditional knowledge
By Elizabeth Ah-Hi
Three years ago, a provocative story line captivated international audiences when Samoan rugby star, Manu Tuilagi sought the services of a Samoan “witch doctor” to help him recover from a knee injury.
Curious readers gobbled up the bizarre headlines wanting to find out why the England rugby sensation, who has access to state of the art medical facilities and services in the world, would resort to such a “backward practice” and travel half way across the world to the remote Pacific.
The remarkable story raised as many eyebrows as it did questions but more importantly gave mainstream audiences a glimpse into what Samoans (who have been beneficiaries of traditional medicine) have always known - that centuries old knowledge and practices by the Taulasea (traditional Samoan healers) passed on from generation to generation, still play a vital role in Samoan society.…more