Talofa! You just said ‘hi’ in the beautiful language of the Samoan people. I learned my first Samoan song about a month ago and since then I have been fascinated with music, language, and culture.
Samoa is one of the many islands sprinkled in the South Pacific Ocean. Samoa has a very rich and old history and despite centuries of European influence, it still maintains its historical customs, social and political systems, and language.
Music and dance are part of everyday life. Singing is especially important as people use it to rejoice, mourn, and keep their culture alive. Some of the traditional instruments include conch shells and nose flutes. Samoan singing is often accompanied by two instruments called pate (a hollowed-out log) and fala (a rolled-up mat), which are both beaten with sticks.
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At a recent Orff workshop, I fell in love with a Samoan song called Savalivali. The song arrived at me via Greacian Goeke who learned it from Finnish Orff teacher Soili Perkio.
Watch this beautiful Traditional Samoan Song on Youtube:
The second song I’d like to share is the Samoan version of Little Birdie. I learned it on youtube from a group of Samoan women. Here you can hear me sing and play it on a ukulele!
I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I have and I also hope you will share them with the children in your lives!
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can learn more about Pacific Island cultures at the San Francisco Bay Area Aloha Festival in San Mateo on August 3 and 4.
This is a great, free, family event with lots of music and dance! If you don’t live in the Bay Area check out dates for Pacific Island cultural festivals in your area.
