Literature of Samoa
Encyclopedia
Samoan literature is diverse. The emergence of Samoa
n written literature
(as distinct from oral literature
) took place in the context of the development of indigenous Pacific Islander
literature in the Pacific region as a whole, beginning in the late 1960s.
Albert Wendt
's novel Sons for the Return Home, in 1973, was one of the very first novels published by a Pacific Islander. Wendt subsequently published a number of novels, poems and plays--including Leaves of the Banyan Tree (1979) and The Songmaker’s Chair (2004)--and has become one of the South Pacific's best known writers. He was made Companion of the Order of New Zealand
for his services to literature in 2001. In 1980, Wendt edited Lali, the first anthology of South Pacific writing, which included works from fifty writers from the region.
The South Pacific Arts Society, founded at the University of the South Pacific
in 1973, published Pacific Islander literature (poetry and short stories) in the magazine Pacific Islands Monthly. In 1974, the Society founded the publishing house Mana Publications, followed in 1976 by the art and literature journal Mana. Samoan poets Savea Sano Malifa
, the founder of the award winning Samoa Observer
newspaper and artist Momoe von Reiche first published their works through the Society.
Notable Samoan writers also include poets Sapa'u Ruperake Petaia
, Eti Sa'aga and novellist and poet Sia Figiel
. Figiel's novel Where We Once Belonged won the Commonwealth Prize for best first book for the Asia-Pacific region in 1997.Emma Kruse Va'ai
, a lecturer at the National University of Samoa
is a poet and published writer. Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard
is another poet from American Samoa
.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n written literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
(as distinct from oral literature
Oral literature
Oral literature corresponds in the sphere of the spoken word to literature as literature operates in the domain of the written word. It thus forms a generally more fundamental component of culture, but operates in many ways as one might expect literature to do...
) took place in the context of the development of indigenous Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
literature in the Pacific region as a whole, beginning in the late 1960s.
Albert Wendt
Albert Wendt
Albert Wendt, CNZM is a Samoan poet and writer who also lives in New Zealand. Among his works is Leaves of the Banyan Tree .-Biography:...
's novel Sons for the Return Home, in 1973, was one of the very first novels published by a Pacific Islander. Wendt subsequently published a number of novels, poems and plays--including Leaves of the Banyan Tree (1979) and The Songmaker’s Chair (2004)--and has become one of the South Pacific's best known writers. He was made Companion of the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
for his services to literature in 2001. In 1980, Wendt edited Lali, the first anthology of South Pacific writing, which included works from fifty writers from the region.
The South Pacific Arts Society, founded at the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in 1973, published Pacific Islander literature (poetry and short stories) in the magazine Pacific Islands Monthly. In 1974, the Society founded the publishing house Mana Publications, followed in 1976 by the art and literature journal Mana. Samoan poets Savea Sano Malifa
Savea Sano Malifa
Savea Sano Malifa is a Samoan poet, journalist, newspaper editor, and publisher. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of the Samoa Observer, the main newspaper in Samoa...
, the founder of the award winning Samoa Observer
Samoa Observer
The Samoa Observer is the largest newspaper group in Samoa published in both English and Samoan. The Samoa Observer is published Monday to Friday, the Weekend Observer on Saturdays and the Sunday Samoan on Sundays with all editions available online. Coverage includes local and international news,...
newspaper and artist Momoe von Reiche first published their works through the Society.
Notable Samoan writers also include poets Sapa'u Ruperake Petaia
Sapa'u Ruperake Petaia
Sapa'u Ruperake Petaia is a poet and writer from Samoa. His poem Blue Rain became the title of a collection of his poems first published in 1980 with later editions in the 1990s. The collection included the satirical poem Kidnapped which explores themes about the loss of traditional Samoan...
, Eti Sa'aga and novellist and poet Sia Figiel
Sia Figiel
Sia Figiel is a contemporary Samoan novelist, poet, and painter.Sia Figiel grew up amidst the traditional Samoan singing and poetry which heavily influenced her writing. Her formal schooling was conducted in Samoa and New Zealand where she also began a BA which was completed at Whitworth College...
. Figiel's novel Where We Once Belonged won the Commonwealth Prize for best first book for the Asia-Pacific region in 1997.Emma Kruse Va'ai
Emma Kruse Va'ai
Emma Kruse Va'ai is a Samoan chief , writer and educator in Samoa. Her matai chief title is Letuimanu’asina.She has a PhD in English from the University of New South Wales in Australia and is a former director of Samoa Polytechnic...
, a lecturer at the National University of Samoa
National University of Samoa
The National University of Samoa is the only national university in Samoa. Established in 1984 by an act of parliament, the university is coeducational and provides certificate, diploma, and undergraduate degree programs, as well as technical and vocational training. About 2,000 students are...
is a poet and published writer. Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard
Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard
Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard is a Samoan writer based at the University of Hawaii as an assistant-professor of Pacific literature. She was born in Utulei village, Tutuila, Samoa and now lives in the Manoa Valley in Honolulu...
is another poet from American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
.