The Expulsion of The Tu'i Tonga Talakaifaiki (King of Tonga) & The Birth of Malietoa (King of Samoa), The Birth of Siva Afi. There are fire knife dance competitions held throughout the Pacific, including the annual World Fire Knife Dance Competition at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) on Oahu. Samoan Fire Knife Dance Lava Lava Kpohana. Other Samoan dances include the Maulu'ulu, which is an all-female dance that is more elegant. The Samoan warriors arrived to prepare their entertainment for Tu'i Tonga Talakaifaiki. When pronounced with the glottal stop, the word 'oti does not mean "death" at all; as a verb, 'oti means "to cut" as in 'otiulu ("hair cut"), or, as a noun, it refers to the domestic goat. One more linguistic issue remains to be worked out in regards to 'oti (with the initial glottal stop) and "oti" (without the glottal stop). Siva Afi Entertainment has been teaching Samoa's youth the art of Fire Knife dancing for over 22 years. Samoan dance is most famous for the siva afi, or fire knife dance, nowadays the capper to nearly every Polynesian revue and luau. Boy performing a Samoa fire dance - siva afi Samoan dance traditions reflect contact between Samoan culture and other cultures from the East and West. by:Trick Concepts 5.0 out of 5 stars 1. Siva afi is a spectacular fire knife dance. When he was able to come to America, he went to school, worked, and danced. When European and American whalers and traders began commercial ventures in Samoa, they introduced the natives to the long-handled blubber knife and the hooked cane knife. "Siva afi" redirects here. Favorite Add to Samoan Practice Fire Knife Custom Siva Afi Fire Dance Prop Spin Tool Learning ALOHABRUSHART. Samoan warriors were called upon to dance and entertain the Tu'i Tonga Talakaifaiki during a birthday celebration for the King of Tonga. Mrs. Tavita Vaoifi wrote, after being married to him for 12 years, from 1979 until his death in 1991 from Cyclone Val, the information about fire not being a part of the "Fireknife Dance" until 1946 is a mistake. Mauga Mu is a name that is spreading like fire with its growth in multiple locations throughout O'ahu and its popularity beyond the Pacific. It’s a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation, with each adding a new layer of style, boldness, and skill. He had won a scholarship from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Tribal performers of fire knife dancing (or Siva Afi or even "Ailao Afi" as it is called in Samoa) dance while twirling the knife and doing other acrobatic stunts. The Malietoa title is taken from the opening phrase of that speech: "Mālie toa, mālie tau," meaning "great warriors, well fought.". One common claim is that the word "nifo'oti" means "tooth of death", but this is not linguistically accurate as Samoan syntax places the modifier after the subject; according to Samoan grammar, the term "nifo'oti" would actually mean "dead tooth", hardly as intimidating as the former translation. Samoa has a long history of Siva afi or firedancing. They danced and pointed out the locations of the buried weapons to other Samoan warriors, who were waiting in small paopaos (canoes) offshore. The female siva is with gentle movements of the hands and feet in time to music. Ancient legend speaks of 400 warriors who trained with their Nifo Oti. Fish and other seafood are widely eaten in Samoa. The Samoan fire knife dance is more than a popular spectacle that adds sizzle to a Hawaiian luau. In the mid 20th century, the ancient traditions were commercialized and westernized. The wooden handle gradually lengthened and the blade got shorter. Their exhibitionists would almost rather die than seek medical care for injuries incurred while performing. The towels are set afire during the dances thus explaining the name. The Samoan fire knife dance is more than a popular spectacle that adds sizzle to a Hawaiian luau. He was rewarded for the notices and tourists he encouraged to visit his beloved homeland with the High Chief Title, A'e, from the head of state Malietoa Tanumafili II. [1] Today, modern competitions are held annually at the Polynesian Cultural Center to name the World Fireknife Champion. The competition began in 1992 and is always held during the third week of May. Learn how and when to remove these template messages, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fire_knife&oldid=1000475137, Articles lacking in-text citations from July 2010, Articles needing additional references from July 2009, All articles needing additional references, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 2015: Joseph Cadousteau (Papeete, Tahiti), 2014: Viavia Tiumalu, Jr. (Orlando, Florida), 2013: Joseph Cadousteau (Papeete, Tahiti), 2012: Joseph Cadousteau (Papeete, Tahiti), 2011: Viavia Tiumalu, Jr. (Orlando, Florida), 2008: Viavia Tiumalu, Jr. (Orlando, Florida), 2007: Andrew "Umi" Sexton (Orlando, Florida), This page was last edited on 15 January 2021, at 07:44. Siva AFi Nifo Oti Samoan Fire Dance Blade Torch Polynesian Fire Dancer Hawaii Luau ALOHABRUSHART. Each May, competitors from around the world gather on the island’s North Shore to display their fire knife skills. The Samoans buried weapons (nifo oti) in the sand all around the beach area as they plied the Tongans with "bush gin". The Fa'ataupati or slap dance, performed by males, consists of fierce slapping of the body in rhythmic motion to drum beats. The young man Tavita Vaoifi revived the Samoan ailao Siva Afi dance to eventually bring it home to Samoa from Hawai'i. Fa’ataupati. Although today many commercial performers perform the dance with short staffs or knives without blade, this is not authentic fire knife dance and is unacceptable in Samoan cultural practices except for training purposes. Dec 1, 2012 - This photo captures the exciting finale in the physically demanding Samoan Fire Dance. The warriors then stormed the beach, recovered the weapons and set them ablaze as they proceeded to drive the Tongans in a bloody battle all the way across the island, from east to the westernmost point of Upolu. From shop Kpohana. The Superintendent of the Mormon school where Tavita was teaching at the time was able to calm the audience and assure them that no harm would come to them. Local high schools showcase their Samoan cultural skills in chiefly oratory, cultural games and in the song and dance presentation. It’s a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation, with each adding a new layer of style, boldness, and skill. That is added to the knife Tin 1946 by a Samoan knife dancer named Freddie Letuli, later to become Paramount Chief Letuli Olo Misilagi. From shop Kpohana. Polynesian historians and authorities on Samoan cultural history state that the training of Toa warriors in the art of hand to hand combat with the Nifo Oti, the serrated-edged Samoan war club, came into prominence between 900 - 1200 AD. Over time, the performing implement has changed. Boy performing a Samoan fire dance (siva afi). From shop ALOHABRUSHART. Letuli died in July 2003 in Honolulu during the writing of the book. During night dances, torches were often twirled and swung about by dancers, although a warclub was the usual implement used for ailao in remembrance of the three brothers Tuna, Fata, and Savea and their defeat of the Tongan invaders. Since Uluao’s fire knife performance was such a success, the rest of the Polynesian dancing instruments such as poi, staff, and hoop were quickly modified to become fire-dancing toys. Polynesian historians and authorities on Samoan cultural history state that the training of Toa warriors in the art of hand to hand combat with the Nifo Oti, the serrated-edged Samoan war club, came into prominence between 900 - 1200 AD. Samoan culture has many visually exciting dances, or siva, such as the Siva Afi (“fireknife”), in which dancers twirl and toss a single- or double-bladed knife lit on fire. Letuli Olo Misilagi was the first man to add fire to the traditional Samoan ailao, or knife dance. The history of the dance is hundreds of years old and is supposed to highlight a warriors prowess in battle. Freddie Letuli, (April 30, 1919 as Uluao Letuli Misilagi in the village of Nu'uuli in American Samoa – 2003), originated the fire knife dance in 1946 at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, previously dancing in Hawaii and Los Angeles with two knives. Today, of course, the Samoan fire knife dance is a show-stopping staple in Polynesian revues or luaus. Some of the moves performed in shows now are more modern and flashy than traditional battle preparations. And just like that, I had an idea to add ‘sizzle’ to my fire knife dance.”. The baton twirler, then the fire-eater. In 2007, the championships were expanded to welcome competitors in a duet category and a women's category. Mauga Mu home of the world reknown Samoan fire knife dance champion, Mikaele Oloa and his family! They had wrapped both ends of their nifo-oti with dry palm sennit, which was then dipped into the fires to create a blaze on one end of the knife. $49.95 - $57.95. On Sundays, large meals are cooked in the umu and served to all family members. Enjoy. The fire knife is a traditional Samoan cultural implement that is used in ceremonial dances. A Samoan fire knife is used in traditional Pacific dance perfomances known as ailao. It is probable that the danger of sharpened blades and the demand for multiple daily shows by top performers has caused the sharpened blade to disappear entirely from commercial performances. Notice the strain in the performer's face and body. As night set in, the Festivities and party progressed, more "bush gin" was consumed, and the Samoan warriors "performed" for the king. There was also a young girl practicing her baton twirling, and the baton had light bulbs attached to each end. There’s even a Junior World Fire Knife Competition, which spotlights youngsters ranging in ages from 12 to 17. Now, when one travels to Hawaii, it is quite common to see commercial 'Fire Knife Dancing' performed with wooden or aluminum poles wrapped in towels. Fire Twirling Baton 3/8" 4.3 out of 5 stars 7. Says event founder Pulefano Galeai, “This unique event combines great athletic skill, unflinching bravery and ever-present danger to bring out the best in these competitors. These performances are often part of Luau festivities or Polynesian shows that include Poi Ball performances. 5 out of 5 stars (52) 52 reviews $ 300.00. The Tongans had ruled parts of Samoa (Upolu and Savai'i) but were not able to conquer the Eastern Samoan Islands, namely Manu'a and Manono, whose warriors famously held off Tongan and Fijian invasions on numerous occasions. Letuli Olo Misilagi was the first man to add fire to the traditional Samoan ailao, or knife dance. It was originally composed of a machete wrapped in towels on both ends with a portion of the blade exposed in the middle. The knives used by performers in American Samoa are still made of machetes, although they are often dulled for younger dancers. For the wrestler, see. This was while WWII was being fought in part in his beloved South Pacific. The fire knife is a well known traditional Polynesian (Samoan) cultural specific prop used by various ceremonial dancers. Traditional competitions were hotly contested. Many other Polynesian Islands have implemented the Siva Afi into their own Island shows especially in the Islands of Tahiti, Hawai'i, Cook Islands Fiji and Tonga. The modern fire knife dance has its roots in the ancient Samoan exhibition called ailao – the flashy demonstration of a Samoan warrior's battle prowess through artful twirling, throwing and catching, and dancing with a war club. Therefore, the most probable derivation of the term "nifo'oti" stems from the resemblance of the weapon's hook to the curved horn ("nifo") of a goat ("'oti"), or from the serrated teeth ("nifo") that formed the weapon's cutting edge ('oti). The characteristic metal hook of these tools was readily incorporated into the Samoan wooden nifo'oti, which bears the unique hooked element whether carved from wood or forged from steel. In 2010, the event expanded to four nights including a two-night, three-person final competition. A fast, energetic slap dance, the fa’ataupati is performed by men wearing traditional lavalava and women wearing puletasi, a two-piece garment. As such, they are often performed at accelerated speeds. The Siva Afi was originally performed with the Nifo Oti, which was very dangerous. $179.97. Driven westward from Aleipata, Upolu (where the Tu'i Tonga's birthday festivities were underway) to the coast of Mulifanua, the Tongan king and his bodyguards were cornered against the sea. The bride changes into her second wedding gown and performs a traditional Samoan dance (Taualuga) for the guests. Film and edit by Amir Zakeri Music was created by my brother Alexander. The sasa is a group dance performed sitting to a drum rhythm. “I stared at the fire-eater, then the baton twirler. The Fire knife dance or Siva Afi is the most popular Samoan dance among tourists in Samoa. Zakeri Music was created by my brother Alexander dances, hence the name traditionally... 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