Aganu'u Samoa 101 Fiafia Nite (Graduation)

Aganu'u Samoa 101: Fiafia nite at Martin Hautus, Onehunga

with my beloved after on stage performance

 What a blessing, a very full on weekend and now able to relax and reflect on what was learned over the past 10 weeks with our Aganu'u classes. I now know (with still more practice) in the Samoan language of:

• folafola to'ona'i
• folofola sua
• pa'ia Samoa potopoto
• a brief faafeiloa'iga
• a brief introduction of myself
• my dad's families faalupega of: Si'ufaga, Falelatai and Fasito'o
• my mum's families faalupega of: Fale'ula

Leading up to the night, I could deliver my speech at home but on stage - I'd go blank but on the night with the help of my husband we had a great night. He did a great job with his lauga/speech and shared a few tears in now finally being able to learn what hadn't been passed on.

It was a night of celebration for all our class from different corners of Auckland but all with the one goal of learning 'meaSina o Samoa' or treasures/most important aspects of Samoan culture, complete with a to'ona'i feast for all our guests.

Many families were present but as my parents were in Samoa and Fritz's overseas too we were able to share the occasion with our children. In fact, Fritz has now started teaching the folafola to'ona'i with our children and my sister Maria has jumped on board too. 

Our thanks go to our two facilitators: Fetalaiga ia Tu'u'u, Apulu Mary Autagavaia and the founder of the class Susuga o Taoana'i Reupena who is one of the leaders of a Catholic youth group who under the blessing of their Parish Priest have developed these classes that are now running all over Auckland, in Melbourne and more sites in Australia to be confirmed.

It wa a true honour and a blessing to be a part of the class and would highly recommend it to those who are considering to reclaim their Samoa identities. With it's principles of: new evangelism and passing it forward we learnt things that we had missed out on learning as first generation NZ Samoans. 

As a result, Fritz is really keen to run some classes in the community to also pass it forward. Watch this space for further information for those who would like to be a part of classes run in Mangere....