Scribe and family to sing redemption songs
The distant sound of a conch call is heard. As waves burble onto the shore, Lupepe or Pepe for short, with her hair in an immaculate bun, sings a moving Samoan hymn. Proud and strong, she strums her treasured white kikala. She wants to leave a life of slavery. Dreams are packed tight into banana boxes. She will take her children to New Zealand for a better life.
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Fa'amoana Luafutu is a small shoeless boy at a New Zealand airport. Looking about curiously at the foreign sights and smells, he feels as if he has swallowed a rainbow.
On his first day at school in Auckland he is given his new name, John, as Fa'amoana is considered too difficult to pronounce. He feels dumb and lost. He looks up and sees the phrase "deeds not words" embossed in concrete on the main school building.…more
Malakai Fekitoa in Jockeys for NZ Fashion Week
No description needed. Just Enjoy!
Video footage courtesy: TVNZ
"The Jonah Lomu Machine"
What happens when you take one of rugby’s biggest legends and hide him inside a prize machine in a Dublin pub? To mark Heineken’s sponsorship of Rugby World Cup 2015.
Jonah Lomu surprises some unsuspecting Heineken drinkers in a local rugby pub.
Want to get closer to the action for #RWC2015? All you have to do is enjoy a Heineken in participating stores and bars, call it right and you could be at the coin-flip for an Irish game. #ITSYOURCALL
Meet Jeremy Dodson
Instagram Bio goes a lil' something like:
"Keeping my soul from the devil. Olympic & Field Sprinter. Black/Samoan (Mauala) Denver, CO > Phoenix, AZ
Born and raised in Denver, CO, Jeremy attended George Washington H.S. prior to the University of Arkansas, having then transferred to University of Colorado, where he earned a degree in Economics and Sociology with a minor in Neurophysiology and accepted into the CU School of Law. While competing collegiately, Jeremy was a four-time All-American (three at CU, one at UA) and set Colorado records in the indoor and outdoor 200 meters. Jeremy qualified for both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
The athlete is the son of Peggy Mauala, of Malie and Cyrus Dodson, of the United States. “I represented the United States for so many years but during all that time it just didn’t feel right,” he said. “I was just another person, another sprinter.” - Samoa Observer
He is currently representing Samoa at the IAAF World Championship with plans to go to next year's Rio Olympics. He has made it through to the Semi-finals.…more
10 Cool Things about Te Vaka
10 random cool things you should know about Te Vaka (if you didn't know...now ya know)
1. The group was founded by singer and songwriter Opetaia Foa'i in New Zealand. 1994 The beginnings of Te Vaka.
Full Band Biography here: Te Vaka
2. Opetaia Tavita Foa’i (Leader) was born in Alamagoto, a small village in Apia, Western Samoa. He even wrote a song about his hometown: "Alamagoto" (Album: Nukukehe)
3. Opetaia's father is from Tokelau his mother from Tuvalu. (Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu - we all cousins!)
Walt Disney Studios, California, USA (Moana's home) vs. Tuvalu (Opetaia's mum's home)
4. First Te Vaka album entitled "Te Vaka" released in over 80 countries to worldwide acclaim making the top 10 on several worldmusic charts , receiving rave reviews from the USA , UK , Europe and New Zealand and becoming one of ARC music's all time best selling albums.
5. Before joining Te Vaka, Male vocalist Doug Bernard A.K.A "D.…more
Let Kids Be Kids - The Icons
Watch some of New Zealand's most revered sportsman talk straight from the heart and remind us all to let kid be kids when they are playing sports #letkidsbekids
All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam are some of the big names supporting this awesome cause!
Sport is an important part of life for most kiwi kids and it can have a really positive impact on a child’s self-esteem, physical health and social skills. Unfortunately most weekends our kids are being exposed to violence and aggressive behaviour from parents/ family members/ friends when they are supposed to be out there having fun. Our campaign aims to advocate the proper way to love and support children involved in contact sport and to remind adult supporters that they are role models and it is their responsibility to create a safe environment for kids to play in. Our message is simple: let kids be kids when they are participating in sport.…more
D23 Expo Moana Panel & Song Highlights - Dwayne Johnson & Te Vaka
Te Vaka on Disney "Moana" soundtrack
Awesome news to find out that 'Te Vaka', one of the Pacific's favourite bands, have been involved with behind the scenes in making the music for Disney's Moana. Band member Jojo Toomata posted this pic with this caption:
God is Good!! An amazing experience at Disney today!! Finally we can reveal what we've been doing here in L.A. We have the pleasure of working with Disney to bring the best of the Pacific to the world!! Moana the next best thing! Soo proud to represent our Pacific people to share our stories about our Ancestors to the world! What pleasure to be working alongside Dwayne Johnson, and Finally meet the Producers & writers. Follow that dream, cause it just got real! Boom! Massive shout out to my Beautiful wife Mequita and Kids, Love you and miss you's!!! #Blessed #polymovement #TeVaka2015 #TheRock #Disney#D23expo #family
Congratulations Te Vaka we can't wait to hear the Music.
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NWC Lip Sync Challenge - Samoa!
Shake it off!
Team Samoa loosen up for a bit at the Netball Wrold Cup and whipped up some choreo to Tay-Tay!
Check out the girls in Blue showing they got the skills on AND off the court.
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Maria Tutaia lets us in her circle in her My World
Dont forget the lyrics-Samoas National Anthem
Samoan Vampires; Yes We Exist by "3bino"
Imagine being a blonde blue eyed girl with piercingly white skin walking into a Samoan Food Shop (willingly in broad daylight). You walk up to the counter and apprehensively ask the shop keeper for a LARGE plate with 2 taros, 3 povi masimas and a scoop of sapasui...
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