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SAMOA SET TO BECOME FESTIVAL CAPITAL OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Samoa is set to become the cultural heart of the South Pacific this September.It is when the Treasured Islands host the biggest celebration of Samoan culture – the annual Teuila Festival.Named after the national flower of Samoa, a species of ginger flower, the Teuila Festival is a celebration of all things Samoan and is celebrated annually on the first week of September.Kicking off on the 1st of September, the festival showcases numerous cultural activities such as choral exhibitions and traditional entertainment such as the Siva Afi (fire knife dancing), wood carving and tattoo demonstrations as well as the annual International Long Boat Races where the best paddlers from all over the Pacific will descend on the island nation to compete in a pan-Pacific regatta.The celebrations traditionally close with the annual Miss Samoa pageant held on the last day of the festival, which will be on the 6th of September.Peter Sereno from Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) says that the festival marks Samoa as the cultural centre of the South Pacific. “Samoa is regarded as the cradle of Polynesia and we celebrate our cultural roots every year during the Teuila Festival,” he says.“It’s a fabulous time to be in Samoa, where the county is at its most lively and colourful with activities in and around Apia.