Tutuila claims that the first one named in Samoa and accepted by the kings was woven by a group of women in the A'uma village, near Leone, and it was the same robe that was completed in Fagaitua by a woman by the name of Tauoloasii. The robe when finished was worn by the weaver when she jumped into a deep pool of water during a ceremony celebrating the great event. When the weaver came out of the water, the robe was said to be perfectly dry
Manu'a claims that the first robe woven and named in Samoa was the Lau o le Teve ma le Masoa (Leaves of the Teve and Arrowroot Plants). Upolu claims that the first established group of weavers was in Fagaloa. The kings, they said, first recognized their Pipii ma le Eleele (Cling to Earth).
The women of Samoa immediately got together, and in groups they worked to copy the weaving of the precious gift. The honour of being the first and original group to weave the first robe in Samoa for the kings is now claimed by several different groups in the islands. There is also a difference in opinion as to which of things' royal robes was first ceremoniously named. Having no written history at the time, Fuka, the Princess of Tonga, arrived at opinions on the matter.
Fuka was the younger sister of Tuitoga, the King of Tonga. She brought the robe from Tonga to Samoa to be presented to her older sister, Lautiovogia, who was then the Queen in Samoa to King Tuiatua. Fuka's gift was given to her Queen-sister during her visit to Samoa. In appreciation of the gift, King Tuiatua named the robe Ie-Toga in honour of the Royal Family of Tonga. Since that historical occasion hundreds of years ago, the name of the royal robe has never been changed.
The Ie-Toga is woven by hand from cured leaves of the finest grade of the pandanus plant. The best weavers among the women are engaged in the tedious job of weaving one robe which takes them several years to complete. Originally the Ie-Toga (Tongan Cloth) was brought to Samoa by Fuka of Tonga. According to history the first Ie-Toga was woven for many years in Tonga by Fuka herself
Valuables belonging to kings and high chiefs while they were alive have been buried with them in their graves when they passed away, even if they were made of gold or diamonds, according to an ancient custom. The Ie-Toga has never been subjected to that treatment. Burying of Ie-Toga with the dead has never been permitted.
But the Samoans can buy several acres of land and save a condemned man with one Ie-Toga. Besides those, there are now among the royalties of Samoa very old Ie-o-le-Malo (government-approved robes) that can never be bought with money. The wealth of the chief is measured according to the number of Ie-Togas he has and the history attached to each robe in his collection. It is the most precious medium of exchange in Samoa according to the Samoans.
The term "fine mat" is not an accurate English translation for the word Ie-Toga, the most valued possession of the royal families of Samoa. It fails to describe the true value of the sacred ceremonial robe as the Samoans see it. Ie-Toga is never used as a mat; it never was and it will never be. It is often said among the Europeans that a person can buy anything with money, and that is true in many cases.
PLEASE, let's not get into a discussion of who makes fala or cloths better: Samoans or Tongans. Lets remember how entangled the histories of Samoa and Tonga are; Samoa has the 'ie toga and the Tongans have the kie ha'amoa!
In fact, the Tongan royalty usually have their fine cloths made for them in Samoa.
Lets respect each other and bask in the greatness that our PI people are constantly creating. It is not about who did what first, or which one is better - it's about the significance!
who said anything about learning to weave the ie toga from the tongans?? i think you misuderstood because we didn't learn it from tonga....and samoans call it fala too.......
thats very good that you guyz are learning that from the tongans be cuz it should be different how people do therez different so they can show how they do therez but my culture tonga thats the main place where the ie oga iz but in tonga we call it fala....
@immacrazyone2 - Samoans did not learn weaving the fine mat from Tonga. It is called a "Ie Toga" because the demand for these Samoan mats from Tonga, especially amongst the Tongan royal family was such that the major destination for the finest mats was Tonga to cement marriages and political alliances.
Tutuila claims that the first one named in Samoa and accepted by the kings was woven by a group of women in the A'uma village, near Leone, and it was the same robe that was completed in Fagaitua by a woman by the name of Tauoloasii. The robe when finished was worn by the weaver when she jumped into a deep pool of water during a ceremony celebrating the great event. When the weaver came out of the water, the robe was said to be perfectly dry
niu1963 1 year ago
Manu'a claims that the first robe woven and named in Samoa was the Lau o le Teve ma le Masoa (Leaves of the Teve and Arrowroot Plants). Upolu claims that the first established group of weavers was in Fagaloa. The kings, they said, first recognized their Pipii ma le Eleele (Cling to Earth).
niu1963 1 year ago
The women of Samoa immediately got together, and in groups they worked to copy the weaving of the precious gift. The honour of being the first and original group to weave the first robe in Samoa for the kings is now claimed by several different groups in the islands. There is also a difference in opinion as to which of things' royal robes was first ceremoniously named. Having no written history at the time, Fuka, the Princess of Tonga, arrived at opinions on the matter.
niu1963 1 year ago
Fuka was the younger sister of Tuitoga, the King of Tonga. She brought the robe from Tonga to Samoa to be presented to her older sister, Lautiovogia, who was then the Queen in Samoa to King Tuiatua. Fuka's gift was given to her Queen-sister during her visit to Samoa. In appreciation of the gift, King Tuiatua named the robe Ie-Toga in honour of the Royal Family of Tonga. Since that historical occasion hundreds of years ago, the name of the royal robe has never been changed.
niu1963 1 year ago
The Ie-Toga is woven by hand from cured leaves of the finest grade of the pandanus plant. The best weavers among the women are engaged in the tedious job of weaving one robe which takes them several years to complete. Originally the Ie-Toga (Tongan Cloth) was brought to Samoa by Fuka of Tonga. According to history the first Ie-Toga was woven for many years in Tonga by Fuka herself
niu1963 1 year ago
Valuables belonging to kings and high chiefs while they were alive have been buried with them in their graves when they passed away, even if they were made of gold or diamonds, according to an ancient custom. The Ie-Toga has never been subjected to that treatment. Burying of Ie-Toga with the dead has never been permitted.
niu1963 1 year ago
But the Samoans can buy several acres of land and save a condemned man with one Ie-Toga. Besides those, there are now among the royalties of Samoa very old Ie-o-le-Malo (government-approved robes) that can never be bought with money. The wealth of the chief is measured according to the number of Ie-Togas he has and the history attached to each robe in his collection. It is the most precious medium of exchange in Samoa according to the Samoans.
niu1963 1 year ago
The term "fine mat" is not an accurate English translation for the word Ie-Toga, the most valued possession of the royal families of Samoa. It fails to describe the true value of the sacred ceremonial robe as the Samoans see it. Ie-Toga is never used as a mat; it never was and it will never be. It is often said among the Europeans that a person can buy anything with money, and that is true in many cases.
niu1963 1 year ago
PLEASE, let's not get into a discussion of who makes fala or cloths better: Samoans or Tongans. Lets remember how entangled the histories of Samoa and Tonga are; Samoa has the 'ie toga and the Tongans have the kie ha'amoa!
In fact, the Tongan royalty usually have their fine cloths made for them in Samoa.
Lets respect each other and bask in the greatness that our PI people are constantly creating. It is not about who did what first, or which one is better - it's about the significance!
dteo 2 years ago
TRU DAT dteo!!!! DONT KNOW Y POLY'S B FIGHTING OVER SHIT LYKE DAT... WE ALL FROM DA SAME BLOODLINES!!!! DOI!!!!
supersilverjoe 2 years ago
Comment removed
natnpolu 2 years ago
com'n there's nothing to it easy lava. good for samoa to go back to quality, must be flexible like an 'ie hahaha
samoaMsamoa 2 years ago
the tongan fala is more colourful than da samoan fala
taulanis 2 years ago
it's colourful because Tongans add in colourful strips that were made by the palagi.
Samoans keep it traditional adding feathers from the birds of Samoa.
AzFonoti 2 years ago
who said anything about learning to weave the ie toga from the tongans?? i think you misuderstood because we didn't learn it from tonga....and samoans call it fala too.......
Tauaana 2 years ago
thats very good that you guyz are learning that from the tongans be cuz it should be different how people do therez different so they can show how they do therez but my culture tonga thats the main place where the ie oga iz but in tonga we call it fala....
immacrazyone2 2 years ago
in tonga you call it "ie Ha'amoa" which in english is "Samoan Cloth"
AzFonoti 2 years ago
@immacrazyone2 - Samoans did not learn weaving the fine mat from Tonga. It is called a "Ie Toga" because the demand for these Samoan mats from Tonga, especially amongst the Tongan royal family was such that the major destination for the finest mats was Tonga to cement marriages and political alliances.
tamaolemaa 2 years ago
WOW AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEE....
rockdalefijians 2 years ago
mi aunty can make the tongan fine mats ae she gud as
taulanis 3 years ago
Awesome!
vaioget 4 years ago
ie toga
polysistuh 4 years ago