O le taualuga by Pacific Soul
 

Music: O le taualuga

            Music is the definition of emotion and learning. I find music as a gateway for individuals to create a connection with a particular song in order to relate his or her emotions, whether it’s to feel happy, sad, hype, or relax. Music also conveys a certain message that an artist wants the audience to learn and understand its significance. For example beautiful by performing artist Christina Aguilera is a song based on the beauty of every person despite his or her imperfections. The message conveyed in this song is that no individual should feel insecurity from judgment of others. It also sets an emotion of happiness to ease persons of mutual feeling pertaining to the song’s mood and message. Sometimes messages create a story that is narrated within the lines of a song to tell of an important event whether historic or not. Artists use music to reach out to the audience in order for their message to be listened, felt, and understood.

            “O le taualuga” by performing group artist Pacific Soul is an old traditional song of my Samoan culture commonly played at most fa’afiafiagas (functions). Taualuga is the final dance performed by a single female dancer called the taupou. A taupou is a young female of high rank within a village that is selected by a high chief in honor of performing the taualuga. I purposely selected the song o le taualuga because it is a well written song in my language detailing preparations and actions of the taupou. For example the beginning lines of the song “O le taualuga o le a fa’ai’u mea uma, olioli malie se’ese’e mai, ua matagofie.”  It’s statement meaning the finale of the fa’afiafiaga and the taupou’s graceful dance performance. Other lines that explain the taupou’s actions are “Fa’avai lou tino, tasi ou taga fo’i e manino” meaning cover your body with baby oil, your actions must be cleared. “Siva ma le ataata ata, ole aso ua maualuga faaali lou fia fia i si ou siva Samoa” meaning dance with a smile and showcase your happiness of the Samoan dance.

            A taualuga is a type of performance that brings happiness and joy from the audience. Selecting this song not only details the actions of the taupou but is considered a story. Before modernization reached my people, my culture used local hand-made instruments to create music in order to narrate the significance the taualuga. O le taualuga is one of the oldest songs past down from generation to generation played for the taupou. I enjoy this song because it plays a major role in my culture following the importance of history and meaning behind it.

            Mahatma Gandhi created a quote called “a nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” I strongly agree with his statement because my culture is of immense importance to me. The selected song o le taualuga is a message that I find interesting following its lyrics for me as an audience to understand the traditions that today are still carried on.. Songs in my language brings me happiness because it reminds me of where I come from and who I am. Music is a strong connection between me and my culture because it reminds me of who I am the traditions I hold

Tame a wild tongue

To strip one of his or her language would be impossible, even if cutting one’s tongue off as a final result. In “How to tame a tongue” Azanduela’s uses statements in her language to emphasize and describe the implied emotions towards punishment of speaking her native tongue. For example “nos quieren poner candados en la boca” meaning we want to put padlocks in their mouths. Or “tenemos que hacerla lucha. Quien esta protegiendo los ranchos de mi gente? Quien esta trantando de cerrar la fusura entre la india y el blanco en nuestra sangre? el chicano, si el chicano que anda como un landron en su propia casa.” We must make it fight. Who is protecting the ranches of my people? Who is trying to close the fusura between India and the white in our blood? The Chicano, if the Chicano that walks like a Landron in your own home. These statements represent Azanduela’s heart for her people and the significance of their language because it identifies who they are. Although there are consequences towards speaking her native tongue, cutting or taming a wild tongue could never be stripped.

Language, culture, and religion are my identity indicators. I am Samoan and I speak my language fluently. My Samoan culture is strongly connected to our culture and tradition. For example, selecting a student unless volunteered to say prayer before class is a tradition. The purpose of this tradition is to bless an individual and their families on a new day for protection. A common quote used within our people relevant to our culture and the example is “Samoa muamua le Atua” meaning Samoa God is first. Although I have discontinued practicing this tradition, I do it on free time. Traditions such as this remind me of the traditions and culture that is significant amongst my people and that I should practice it any way possible as respect.