In an attempt to preserve the art of making Samoan cultural artifact such as the "naifi nifo oti,' and the naifi ailao afi, I have dedicated my spare time for this cause for several reasons.
1. If I don't do it, who will? 2. Naifi nifo oti adds great adornment and accompliment to the taupou (maiden ) in doing the taualuga (the finale) of any cultural entertainment involving samoans. 3. Generations come and go, if the art is not passed on to the next generation, it is doomed to be lost forever. 4. This endeavor is becoming cost prohibitive to say the least, especially, the raw materials and chrome plating.
The fireknife dancing association of Samoa, founded by the family of the late High Chief Freddie
Olo Letuli's wife-Pat, sons and daughters, are to be commended for their efforts to revive the art of fire knife dancing in American Samoa. After all, it was Chief Olo Letuli who is known to be the first Samoan entertainer to add flames to the Samoan traditional siva ailao with the naifi nifo oti.
Such a new transformation in the ailao has made its mark as the epitomy and highlight of any Samoan or Polynesian entertainment throughout the world.
The fire knife or the flaming swords are usually designed by the worrior to his/her own preference and fit. For safety reasons, special structural design and materials are required.
The carbon steel blade or stainless steel are preferred for durability but they require alot blacksmith workmanship and cost much money. A standard set of fire knives include the single knife which not only bigger but it is also used in a solo routine and the double knives are for the final routine. The quality of various steels and materials available today has transformed the design and weight of the fire knife and design. My involvement in this endeavor is related to my pride as a Samoan and the skills I learned at PCC. I had not only learned knife dancing there, but I indulged myself in learning how to make fire knife artifact for the dancers at the time.
We have many Samoan young warriors who have followed Chief Letuli's crusading of the "Samoan flaming sword" in the second generation of dancers primarily in Hawaii in the late 50's and decades that followed. Some of the renown fireknife warriors who have taken the art of "ailao afi or the Samoan fire knife dancing" to the international world stage and made it popular are the Galea'i brothers; Pulefano, Tafili, Fulufululele; Alvin Schwenke now reside in Olando Florida and principal trainer of dancers who have dominated the World Fire Knife Dancing Competition at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii in recent years.
Chief Pulefano Galea'i is to be commended for his vision and foresight to initiate the idea of creating the World Fire Knife competition during his tenure as Coordinator of Cultural Affairs at the Polynesian Cultural Center. This competition has drawn the attention of the present generation of young fire knife dancing warriors from international stage and the polynesian islands who are aspired and vied for the ultimate honor and prestege to be "champion" of the fire knife dancing. The competition also presents the opportunity to promote this significant Samoan art of entertainment throughout generations to come.
1. If I don't do it, who will? 2. Naifi nifo oti adds great adornment and accompliment to the taupou (maiden ) in doing the taualuga (the finale) of any cultural entertainment involving samoans. 3. Generations come and go, if the art is not passed on to the next generation, it is doomed to be lost forever. 4. This endeavor is becoming cost prohibitive to say the least, especially, the raw materials and chrome plating.
The fireknife dancing association of Samoa, founded by the family of the late High Chief Freddie
Olo Letuli's wife-Pat, sons and daughters, are to be commended for their efforts to revive the art of fire knife dancing in American Samoa. After all, it was Chief Olo Letuli who is known to be the first Samoan entertainer to add flames to the Samoan traditional siva ailao with the naifi nifo oti.
Such a new transformation in the ailao has made its mark as the epitomy and highlight of any Samoan or Polynesian entertainment throughout the world.
The fire knife or the flaming swords are usually designed by the worrior to his/her own preference and fit. For safety reasons, special structural design and materials are required.
The carbon steel blade or stainless steel are preferred for durability but they require alot blacksmith workmanship and cost much money. A standard set of fire knives include the single knife which not only bigger but it is also used in a solo routine and the double knives are for the final routine. The quality of various steels and materials available today has transformed the design and weight of the fire knife and design. My involvement in this endeavor is related to my pride as a Samoan and the skills I learned at PCC. I had not only learned knife dancing there, but I indulged myself in learning how to make fire knife artifact for the dancers at the time.
We have many Samoan young warriors who have followed Chief Letuli's crusading of the "Samoan flaming sword" in the second generation of dancers primarily in Hawaii in the late 50's and decades that followed. Some of the renown fireknife warriors who have taken the art of "ailao afi or the Samoan fire knife dancing" to the international world stage and made it popular are the Galea'i brothers; Pulefano, Tafili, Fulufululele; Alvin Schwenke now reside in Olando Florida and principal trainer of dancers who have dominated the World Fire Knife Dancing Competition at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii in recent years.
Chief Pulefano Galea'i is to be commended for his vision and foresight to initiate the idea of creating the World Fire Knife competition during his tenure as Coordinator of Cultural Affairs at the Polynesian Cultural Center. This competition has drawn the attention of the present generation of young fire knife dancing warriors from international stage and the polynesian islands who are aspired and vied for the ultimate honor and prestege to be "champion" of the fire knife dancing. The competition also presents the opportunity to promote this significant Samoan art of entertainment throughout generations to come.
