Travel blog cites Letuli Olo Misilaga as founder of modern Fire-Knife Dancing Sunday January 3, 2010
By Damien Sass and Nynette Sass 

This photograph of Siva Afi, or fire-knife dancing, was taken in 2008 at the Hotel Kitano Tusitala in Apia, Samoa's capital city. [photo:Damien Sass]
 Font | Size: 

Siva Afi is no doubt one of the most exhilarating aspects of Samoan festivities and shouldn’t be missed during a visit to the island. Siva Afi began as the ailao, a traditional dance that involves the twirling of the nifo oti, or war knife, and was a pre-war ritual in pre-Christian days in Samoa to psych up Samoan warriors.


Then, in the 1940s, Letuli Olo Misilagi, a famous Samoan fire-knife dancer, took the ailao to the next level after observing a baton-twirling girl and a Hindu man practicing fire-eating tricks overseas. He added fire to the nifo oti dance, making it more spectacular and daring.


Click to read more in WHL Travel Blog


 


 
Advertisement
Comments to this story (1)
Chief Olo  wrote:
05 Jan 2010 09:03 AM
He was a good man, and is still missed. Leone was an assured place, when the Chiefs we're in town. With all respects to his family, the Chief was a man of action. He acted on his word, and thats how we roll baby. Your word in Leone meant something in those days. Maybe still is, but the men of that era, we're filled with Honor and Duty to their People. I sat at the foot of these men and learnt a great deal. I would carry their shoes today, just to see them once again. I was happier than two ducks in love, just to hear, and for them to teach us. When they engaged in serious debates and discussions, it was like listening to Aristotle and Plato, Homer and Shakespeare rolled up in into one. Men of that era, knew they walked with the village watching their every move and every word-- not to worship, but how to build character, and steer from vice. They made a choice to reverance God Almighty, above and assimilate family's to a New start outside. Their was Honor in our People when we travelled afar. They had an aura about them that made them who they are, and to pass it down to the next generation. This made them Kings and Queeens in my eyes. It was a different world then. How do I remember? I was there! They did right by ALL. Remove the scales on the eyes of this village and restore its Honor-- I can hear them in Heaven just this minute. Nexxttt Generation, your destiny is to preserve the good in our People.*crys* God save American Samoa and Samoa. Paulo
Custom Search
Hawaiian Airlines
Advertisement