A new phenomenon has popped up over the last couple of years, that I’ve become very aware of, and yesterday I decided to do something about it having asked our eldest if she didn’t mind parting with a recent drawing that I wanted to make into a poster to tell an important message.
The phenomenon is the idea of a ‘plastic Samoan’. Whoever created this idea may have started it as a joke but it has now become an insult and a derogatory term that is noted for particularly those who may not speak the Samoan language or who may identify as being Samoan but may not know much about Samoa.
I’ve discussed this in an earlier blog but it pains me to still hear people discuss themselves in terms of being a plastic Samoan and being apologetic for being one.
I totally reject this negative label that is deemed to make someone feel less of value, as a Samoan, it seems to me to be similar to the oppressive terms of racism that Europeans and even us as Samoans, termed those coming from Samoa as ‘FOBS’ in the 1970s – 1980s (Fresh off the boat) and even the racial slur ‘Bunga’ which has gone out of fashion.
Therefore, I’ve decided to start sharing some ‘wisdom’ thoughts through ‘tofa sa’ili’ from my research in poster form of beginning to counter some of the attacks that we see on Samoan cultural evolution, those with multicultural identities that include being Samoa and Samoan diaspora (those living away from the homeland) communities in NZ, Australia, USA, Hawaii, Alaska etc.
If you agree with the poster then please share it. I’ve discussed the copyright with our eldest and we are happy for it to be distributed far and wide without reserving any rights as this is an important term to be refuted and to not continue the demeaning of our own people who have not the voice to counter such attacks.
I’ve also written a poem that I’ll be publishing later on in the year but to suffice to say that often a poster can sum up thoughts in a pithy way that can then be shared for others’ considerations so that the perpetrators can STOP!…
Thank you Helen for highlighting such an important topic.
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Malo le soifua lou susuga le faiaoga. This is a fabulous highlight to remind us of what is and is not OK. Thanks for sharing Helen. I ❤️ your work and have several books. If you want to talk re Malu patterns- let me know. Soifua
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Malo lava le soifua lau susuga Sonya, I read your two articles on the late Dr Patisepa & Faimai who were colleagues of mine at Team Solutions and education in the Mangere/Otara communities many years ago. Do you live in Samoa? or NZ? Yes, I’d like to talk about malu patterns as there are different understandings that I’m aware of. It was through wordpress that your articles came through as feeds 🙂 Ia manuia fuafuaga mo le vaiaso
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I am based in Auckland, New Zealand.
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My daughter and I were just talking about that subject one night and at the same time my cousin shared your post on her FB page! Good timing and keep it up. As Samoans we love to make fun of everybody and everything and complain about racism but we ourselves are racist.
The thing we must remember however is that it’s all in good fun and not out of malice-well mostly anyway.
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Hello ladies. Would you mind sharing the conclusions of your findings regarding the malu patterns fa’amolemole ma fa’afetai.
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Malo lava Laloifi, I’m currently working on another measina Samoa art resource with other writers and one is writing on malu/puke which we hope will be available later in the year but will keep posted if our funding comes through for the resource. Ia manuia
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Thanks for getting back to me Helen. I hope you get the necessary funding.
Malo fa’amalosi (by the way, please correct any mistakes I make, fa’afetai lava).
By the way, would any of you esteemed and knowledgeable ladies please be able to advise me on a very important Samoan cultural book I’d like to leave for my children and grandchildren.
As my daughter is on Facebook a lot and immensely proud of her Samoan culture but knows little about, she’d like to know the correct facts before posting (on my recommendation).
I have sisters living in Auckland who will be coming up to see me early March so I can ask one of them to purchase it for me.
Fa’afetai, fa’afetai lava.
Laloifi Lelaulu
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Thank-you Helen for shedding light on the matter and yes it is quite harsh and offensive when we start judging others about their identity. I am guilty of it too in the past as a joke but yes its not nice and we are all one of the same as Samoan people.
To our mixed, Nz, Aussie, American etc born Samoans we all have a responsibilty to learn our heritage, culture, traditions and language. Our values and protocols also where we Samoans stand proud and carry ourselves with Respect, Courteous and Pride.
Thank-you again Helen reminding us of who we are.
God Bless you and your work.
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