Nanumean children, Brisbane, 10 Jan 2009 (photo, Pese Maatia)
Nanumeans around the globe recently celebrated their national holiday with feasting, dancing, speechmaking, and church services. The "Day of Tefolaha", Po o Tefolaha, January 8th or 9th each year, marks the final conversion in 1922 of the last adherants of Nanumea's traditional religion to Christianity. For this reason, the day is also known as Aso Pati, "Aso Pentekoso Alo Tamaliki o Tefolaha mo Iesu." See Origins of the Po o Tefolaha, Page 4...»
Mark on reef made by Pai and Vau
When interviewed by this newspaper's roving reporter, Ms. Pai and Ms. Vau claimed that the island of Namea (also known as Nanumea) was taken from them by trickery. They say that one day a macho warrior arrived at the shore and brazenly told them the island was his.
Though they tried to convince him otherwise, Tefolaha was insistent. Finally, he proposed a guessing game to try to learn their names. Ms. Pai and Ms. Vau gave futher details ...
see Pai and Vau, Page 4.. »
This little creature, a "loko" in the Nanumean language, is a small tree maggot (also known as leti in Niutao, sina in other parts of Tuvalu), the larvae of a beetle or other insect living high in the trees of Nanumea's forests. It is common to see these tiny worms hanging from a slender bit of web, dangling as if floating in mid air. Lokos are simple creatures, manu o te vao, hurting no one.
Next time you are in the bush at Nanumea, look up -- you may see a loko. If so, don't hurt it. They are creatures from the mythic past!
Milo's younger sister, Hamola, has recently returned from Nanumea with a great set of photos.
Hamola's photos from Nanumea...»
Pese's photos convey images of a spirited faatele, dancing, and children playing outside.
Pese's photos from Brisbane...»