Friday, 1 August 2008
Su’iga’ula a le atuvasa means the threading of the ula or garland. And at the 10th Pacific Festival of the Arts, the saying was chosen to signify the threading of Oceania, its peoples and cultures – past, present and future.
So for anyone present at the closing ceremony, it was hard not to marvel at how, theme or no theme, the celebrations wove together like one seamless ula.
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Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Outside Australias fale at the festival village, singer Kerryanne Cox’s lyrics wafted across the green, “No matter how far I go, my feet will carry me home” and the tears welled up in my eyes. Why am I so emotional?! Because it was at that moment that I realised the closing days of this festival were upon us. The farewells were beginning.
Down on Utulei Beach, the Tahitians took to the performance stage one last time with their pulsing rhythms and shaking grass skirts. But the pace slowed for a moment and the group lined up at the front of the stage to sing a farewell song. The crowd responded.
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Tuesday, 29 July 2008
I’ve been getting some craft therapy here at the festival village. There’s something quite meditative about sitting in the shade of these traditional island style houses, where the breeze blows through and watching the ladies weaving.
At the Festival of Pacific Arts, fales have been erected circling the oval at Samoana High School in Pago Pago and every country attending has one in which to display their art and craft.
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Enjoy Tania and Clement's stories from their recent journey through the Pacific for Pacific Pulse. Read their blog and find out more about their connection to the Pacific.
Pacific Pulse airs on Australia Network Saturdays 2220 Samoan time and Sundays 1920 PNG time, 2120 Fiji time.
Tania Nugent is a television presenter and producer with Australia Network. She hosts the daily education show Nexus on Australia Network and has been involved in the program since its inception.
Read Tania's Stories
Clement Paligaru is a presenter of Radio Australia’s popular interactive radio program "In the Loop". He has been working at the ABC for fifteen years and has reported extensively on the Pacific region during this period.
Read Clement's Stories
