Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa Ma Uiga Mo Tamaiti:

Samoan Proverbs for Children                   

 

Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa Ma Uiga Mo Tamaiti: 

Samoan Proverbs for Children 

Author: Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata 

Illustrator: Ani Huia Ligaliga

Oratia Books (2025)

Picture book, Information,

Paperback, 32 pages

ISBN   978 1 99 004270 6

                         

This is a very attractive, full-colour, bi-lingual picture book, illustrating thirty Samoan proverbs.

These are traditional wisdoms or sayings passed down through the generations, and still holding their relevance for today. Each proverb gets its own page.

The proverb is given first in Samoan, then in English:

‘O oe o le tautai matapalapala.

You are a wise fisherman.’

This is then followed by author Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata’s explanation of the background, or his guidance to the proverb’s full meaning. This often involves explaining the proverb’s cultural context. Here he explains the ‘wise fisherman’ proverb:

‘O le tautai matapalapala o le tautai na te iloa le mea o iai i’a, tusa lava pe nenefu le ogosami.

E fa’asino i se ta’ita’i lelei i taimi o puapuaga.

A wise fisherman knows where the fish are, even in muddy waters. This refers to a person who leads wisely in times of danger.’

Each proverb is accompanied by a colour illustration by Ani Huia Ligaliga. Her handsome pictures show family situations, formal and informal, as well as church gatherings and gardening scenes. Creatures mentioned in some proverbs, such as birds, crabs and fish, are also shown. Many of the pictures have a frame of traditional tapa cloth designs.  

Each picture is not only a representation of Samoan daily life but it also contains clever modern representations of the particular proverb.

For example: ‘E sili le puipuia nai lo le togofitia. Prevention is better than cure,’ is shown by a family putting on their life jackets before taking a rowboat out to sea. Each picture thus reinforces its proverb. These skilful and well-researched illustrations also give a lovely insight into Samoan families and their way-of-life.

 Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa Ma Uiga Mo Tamaiti: Samoan Proverbs for Children is a book which has a much wider appeal than just the inhabitants of Samoa or Samoans living overseas.  It also offers all children a useful doorway to the culture of Samoa, and an introduction to its rich heritage of customs, traditions and wise words.

Author Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata was born and raised in Samoa. He now lives in Auckland. Described as ‘an eminent orator and community leader’, he teaches at McAuley High School in Ōtahuhu and the Centre for Pacific languages in Manukau.

Illustrator Ani Huia Ligaliga is a Māori artist who studied Art at Brigham Young University in Hawaii. Her book illustrations include The Ever-Standing Tree by Tim Tipene (2024) and Alagā’upu Fa’asamoa Ma Uiga Mo Tamaiti: Samoan Proverbs for Children by Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata (2025)

 

Trevor Agnew 

8 Apr 2025 [Review 3757]