Whispers and Vanities in Samoan Indigenous Religious Culture
Whispers and Vanities in Samoan Indigenous Religious Culture
Whispers and Vanities in Samoan Indigenous Religious Culture
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permeated everyday <strong>Samoan</strong> life <strong>and</strong> how everyday <strong>Samoan</strong> life permeated its<br />
religions.<br />
There is some debate on equat<strong>in</strong>g the message <strong>and</strong> mana of Folo with that of Jesus.<br />
In particular on whether the taulasea was say<strong>in</strong>g that Folo <strong>and</strong> Jesus both existed but<br />
existed equally <strong>in</strong> their own sphere, or whether <strong>in</strong> the ultimate they were really one<br />
<strong>and</strong> the same, i.e. the God of Christianity was also the God of pre-Christian Samoa?<br />
There is only a dilemma <strong>in</strong> acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g both religious systems <strong>in</strong> the same breath<br />
if one is considered lesser than the other.<br />
When consider<strong>in</strong>g the question of the sexuality of the human body, differences<br />
between the two religious orders are most pronounced. In ponder<strong>in</strong>g this, the<br />
custodian then turns the conversation to the sexuality of the body.<br />
The sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive body<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>Samoan</strong> <strong>in</strong>digenous traditions the reproductive <strong>and</strong> sexual organs of the<br />
human body underl<strong>in</strong>e human div<strong>in</strong>ity <strong>and</strong> spirituality. They are the <strong>in</strong>struments for<br />
procreation <strong>and</strong> symbolise the power to make new life. Sex <strong>in</strong> this equation was the<br />
vehicle for procreation <strong>and</strong> as such a sacred act.<br />
The body throughout history has been a site of war as well as love. The tensions of<br />
war were alleviated some by establish<strong>in</strong>g suitable marriage liaisons between warr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
political parties. Similarly, the vanities of the elite were <strong>in</strong>dulged by arrang<strong>in</strong>g<br />
marriage between the offspr<strong>in</strong>g of only those with<strong>in</strong> their circle. In both cases<br />
consolidat<strong>in</strong>g the marriage required both a sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive body. Prepar<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the body for sex, where the ultimate aim of sex was to give sexual pleasure <strong>and</strong><br />
procreate successfully, meant hav<strong>in</strong>g to offer more than a perfunctory education on<br />
the dos <strong>and</strong> don’ts of copulation. It meant underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g one’s own sexuality <strong>and</strong><br />
mak<strong>in</strong>g the m<strong>in</strong>d <strong>and</strong> body comfortable with the idea of sex. This was someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
easier to achieve when there was less social <strong>and</strong> religious stigma associated with the<br />
naked body, the genitalia <strong>and</strong> their public mention or display.<br />
In ancient Samoa it was more common for girls to marry dur<strong>in</strong>g adolescence <strong>and</strong><br />
virg<strong>in</strong>ity was prized as a sign of good breed<strong>in</strong>g. In preparation for marriage <strong>and</strong> often<br />
as part of their learn<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> the aualuma, they would be taught through playful <strong>and</strong><br />
serious conversation by faatosaga (traditional birth attendants) <strong>and</strong>/or other suitable<br />
elder women, about the erotic sensations of the body. They would learn through these<br />
women about female <strong>and</strong> male sexuality <strong>and</strong> receive counsell<strong>in</strong>g about the ups <strong>and</strong><br />
downs of marriage <strong>and</strong> parent<strong>in</strong>g. Most times these teachers were also close family<br />
members. For the <strong>in</strong>experienced <strong>and</strong> naturally timid, exposure to this k<strong>in</strong>d of sex<br />
education before marriage made the wedd<strong>in</strong>g night seem less frighten<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> geared<br />
them towards the idea that sex was not only key to human survival <strong>and</strong> so should be<br />
respected, but that it was also someth<strong>in</strong>g that should be enjoyed <strong>and</strong> celebrated.<br />
For ma<strong>in</strong>ly practical reasons, cloth<strong>in</strong>g the body <strong>in</strong> the warm climate of Samoa was<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g ancient times kept to a m<strong>in</strong>imum. Wear<strong>in</strong>g a traditional pe’a 22 or malu 23<br />
22<br />
Pe’a is a term used to describe the traditional male tattoo because it resembles the image of a<br />
bat hang<strong>in</strong>g off a branch.<br />
23<br />
Malu is term used to refer to the notion of giv<strong>in</strong>g shelter, cover <strong>and</strong>/or support.<br />
12