Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Sāmoa’s Independence

  • Author(s)
    Moemoana Schwenke
  • Category
    At the Museum
  • Published
    01 June 2022
  • Read time
    2 minutes

Fa’amanatuina o le 60 Tausaga o le Tuto’atasi o le Malo o Sāmoa. Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Sāmoa’s Independence

Sāmoa will celebrate 60 years of independence on the 1st of June 2022. The Australian Museum celebrates alongside Sāmoans as they reach this milestone. This video series was created and will be released throughout the month of June in celebration. Through interviews with well-respected Sāmoan people, we learn important history about Sāmoa’s fight for independence.

Let us reflect on the many years of struggles and adversity our forefathers endured to gain independence that we now can freely enjoy. Fuimaono Maiava Tofa Fata Viiga Fuimaono

Our first guest is Fuimaono Maiava Tofa Fata Viiga Fuimaono from the Sāmoan villages of Salani in Falealili, Afega and Saipipi in Savai'i. Maiava is an esteemed Sāmoan Cultural Advisor, Entertainer and Motivational Speaker.

He was a former Manager for Cultural Affairs at the Sāmoa Tourism Authority and a former Assistant Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Prisons and Correctional Services, and is currently a Sāmoan Translator and Interpreter at freelance. In an interview with him, he speaks about Sāmoan culture and the important lessons we can learn from the Mau, a peaceful movement that fought for Sāmoan independence from colonial rule in the early 20th century.

Group photograph of the Samoan Mau in front of their Vaimoso office
Group photograph of the Samoan Mau in front of their Vaimoso office. Gleeson, Francis Joseph 1908-1993: Album of photographs of the Mau uprising, Western Samoa, 1930. Ref: PA1-o-795-50. Image: Alfred James Tattersall
© Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
The leaders of the women's Mau; Mrs Tuimaliifano, Mrs Tamasese, Mrs Nelson, Mrs Faumuina
The leaders of the women's Mau; Mrs Tuimaliifano, Mrs Tamasese, Mrs Nelson, Mrs Faumuina. Gleeson, Francis Joseph 1908-1993 :Album of photographs of the Mau uprising, Western Samoa, 1930. Ref: PA1-o-795-05. Image: Alfred James Tattersall
© Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
'Ie Tōga, a Sāmoan Fine Mat made from Pandanus leaves.
'Ie Tōga – a Sāmoan Fine Mat made from Pandanus leaves. Image: Carl Bento
© Australian Museum
Detail of Sāmoan fine woven Toga
Detail of 'Ie Tōga – a Sāmoan Fine Mat made from Pandanus leaves. Image: Carl Bento
© Australian Museum
Sāmoa mo Sāmoa. Sāmoa for Sāmoa.
Pacific Collection Shots 2018
Pacific Collection
Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands New Zealand

Fa'afetai tele lava for watching our series "Fa’amanatuina o le 60 Tausaga o le Tuto’atasi o le Malo o Sāmoa. Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Sāmoa’s Independence".

Special Guest: Fuimaono Maiava Tofa Fata Viiga Fuimaono
Camera Operator and Editor: Moemoana Schwenke
Sāmoan Translation Subtitles: Brian Tonumaipea-Tuisila