A perfect blend of culture and heritage, mixed with some extra spicy ‘beaches’!
Yes, I am talking about Samoa!
It is not about roaming around the white-sand beach and getting a traditional tattoo! But a lot more!
Well, this list of facts will help you know more about this country!! 🌱
MICdrop! Let’s gooooo!
Fascinating Samoa Facts
The time-zone Game: Samoans are 24 hours ahead!
Samoa is about 125 kilometers (78 miles) away from its nearest neighbor, American Samoa.
For the natives and the few visitors who make the short journey between the two paradises, time travel takes on a new level! 🧭
Germany and the United States partitioned the Samoan archipelago in 1899, with the western islands going to the Germans and the eastern islands going to the Yankees.
Independent Samoa shifted west of the International Date Line at the end of December 2011 in order to facilitate trade with its key trading partners, Australia and New Zealand.
Treasure Island’s author lived and died in Samoa!
The treasure we lost!
Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish novelist…released Treasure Island in 1882….a tale that continues to pique the exotic imagination to this day.
He built a lovely home on the slopes of Mount Vaea, replete with a large veranda and even a fireplace.
Stevenson immersed himself in local life and appealed to the colonial rulers of the day on behalf of the Samoans.
Locals adored him so much that he adopted the Samoan moniker Tusitala, which means “Teller of Tales.” 📖
He died in 1894 and was buried at the mountain’s peak, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and his house, which is now the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum!
Kilikiti: Samoans have their own cricket game!
There are three teams: hitting, fielding, and pitching.
However, the similarities between cricket and its Samoan counterpart, kilikiti, end there.
Samoans adapted the ancient English game for local use by adding their own twist. 🏏
Is the entire town interested in playing? There are no “official” team-size or gender restrictions in Kilikiti.
In reality, attempts are already ongoing to harmonize kilikiti regulations, although because Samoa’s clock runs on “island time,” this may take some time.
Oh, and those dorky pull-over sweaters commonly seen on cricket players? There is no need for such a thing in Samoa! Chill!
Fa’a Samoa: Samoan’s own code of conduct!
Fa’a Samoa, or “The Samoan Way,” is the ancient rule of behavior and administration that serves as the foundation of Samoan society!.
The larger your family, the more powerful it becomes! EASY…🌞
So it’s not about ‘you.’ It’s about ‘us,’ even if it means sharing your home with extended family.
There are no “MEs, only “WEs.”
And while Samoa has an official government, there is also a traditional chief system that runs parallel to and frequently intersects with the official system.
Various chief titles govern everything from village matters to ceremonies to national matters!
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is of Samoan descent!
He is, in fact, Samoan, and he is proud of it.
The professional wrestler, who was born to an African-Canadian father and a Samoan mother, is now one of Hollywood’s greatest stars.
In reality, wrestling runs on both sides of the Johnson family…with his father, as well as several of his Samoan cousins, being former wrestlers.🥉
Johnson was so proud of his Polynesian ancestors that he was bestowed a noble Samoan title during his 2004 visit…in appreciation of his contribution to the Samoan people and bloodlines to past Samoan chiefs!
Want a Tattoo? Visit Samoa!
Tattooing, also known as Tatau….signifies Samoa’s spiritual and cultural history.
In reality, Samoans were among the first tattoo artists and are often regarded as the greatest in the world!
But we’re not talking about a little bunny on the back or some Chinese proverb here; in Samoa, a traditional waist-to-knee tattoo is a rite of passage for men!
Why? 🌸
Because it is a lengthy and agonizingly difficult procedure!
The tattoo is gradually tapped into the flesh using traditional handcrafted instruments consisting of bone, tusk, shark teeth, shell, and wood.
The tattooing process might take up to two weeks, and individuals getting inked must be accompanied by supporters!!
It is very acceptable for men to wear skirts!
Even police officers…. known as lavalava around here, are frequently seen wearing traditional macho skirts.
And who can blame them, given the high humidity?
Samoa, one of the purest Polynesian islands still in existence….keeps things authentic once again, with lavalava skirts being the ideal standard for males throughout the islands!
Fa’afafine: a third gender in Samoa!
Despite its heavy Christian influence…Samoa has a highly tolerant side for feminine males, known as Fa’afafine around here.
In reality, it is recognized as a third gender in Samoa since they are neither male, female, nor gay according to traditional society!
According to urban mythology, the remarkable tolerance derives from the days when households with only sons raised their youngest as a girl to help with the female-oriented family tasks!
Fa’afafine is now widely accepted in Samoan society, frequently bringing a ‘carnival mood’ everywhere they go.
Watch the excellent documentary ‘Next Goal Wins’ to learn more about Samoa’s third gender!
Twice the population resides in foreign land!
With a population of over 200,000 people….there are nearly twice as many Samoans residing outside of Samoa, mostly in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States!
What do you think? Is it good or bad?
Though Samoa is one of the most beautiful places on the planet…living on an island has its limitations!
And good opportunities are scarce!
With remittances accounting for roughly 20% of Samoa’s GDP, this cross-border relationship is critical for certain families, but it is becoming a hardship for others.
Men do the cooking in Samoa!
Interesting!
Long before the village awakens and the church bells ring… young men from the extended Samoan family gather to prepare the ‘umu’ hours!
It is done before the Sunday family feast begins!
The traditional dinner, which is baked for hours in an earth oven…is extremely difficult to prepare….and the men are in charge of it!
Fish must be fished, meat must be cut, taro must be sliced, coconuts must be scraped, and the list continues on and on!
Men here do have superpowers…for sure!
Summing up
The last bit of cream on your cake: Beautiful Samoa celebrates its independence on June 1st!
Here are ten fascinating facts about Samoa [with the last bit of cream of course!!!]…which I am sure you loved!
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)
