Fāgogo
An oral story account told at night
that Samoan children looked
forward to after
the day’s chores.
Mostly told by older women, the accounts introduced and reinforced key moral principles, lessons, history, and song.
Aue!
A signal to the narrator of your appreciation, also a sign that you are awake and listening.
Explore The Collective
Sina & the Birds
Long ago in Sāmoa there lived an extraordinary woman named Sina. Every day, Sina’s husband went fishing early in the morning and came back home with delicious seafood for breakfast. But one day, Sina’s husband did not come home for breakfast. She waited, but he didnʻt show up for lunch either.
How “One” Became the First Number
Once upon a time there lived a couple named Sāfea and Falagaua. They had 11 children. The firstborn was Sefulu (Ten).
The Story of Why We Greet Each Other By Pressing Noses Together
Prior to the influenza pandemic of 1918 (which wiped out more than 20% of Samoans), the sogi was the universal, everyday greeting in Sāmoa.
The Story Of The Rat & The Octopus
On the island of Savai'i lived three friends, ʻIsumu the rat, Tulī the plover, and ʻUga the soldier crab.