Monday, April 14, 2008

A Samoan Family Reunion

04/11/08

Our host family hosted a first ever 1-½ day reunion for their extended family. A reunion they did not wish for, did not initiate, but accepted. Their family, the Tofilau family, is really BIG. There are over 200 extended family heads with the title of Tofilau, about 100 attended. The recently deceased and most revered Malietoa, the Head of State, was related to the Tofilau’s. His Prime Minister was a Tofilau. Tofilau’s live mostly in our home village of Iva, but a sizeable, more prosperous number, live in Apia or overseas.

In many ways, family reunions are the same worldwide. There are cliques, black sheep, and children running excitedly around with their cousins. People stay up late catching up on the latest gossip about other family members. Of course, there are differences too.

Appearances are everything. In the U.S., it is the inside of the house that needs to pass the critical eye of relatives. In Samoa, it is the outside. Tens of people spend hundreds of hours making sure the grass is finely trimmed, every blade swept up, every weed in picked from the walkways, every post is covered with palm fronds, and flowers displayed everywhere. Their fastidiousness about the outdoor appearance would make my old Minnesota neighbor green with envy.

A special mass is held to bless the family. For ½ day, a business meeting is held where everyone has a say about the future of the family and improvements, which need to be done to the family’s large land holdings. The meeting starts and ends with a clergyman citing a long prayer. There is food, lots of food. Everyone sated. In the end, there is the customary group photo. People return to their lives completely shot, filled with renewed acquaintances, stories of others, and wondering whether it was really worth it.
A Tofilau Family Meeting

Sweeping the Grass

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