TAFAOATA, Polynesian Love Song

TAFAOATA DVD, Music Video
Produced by Taupou Productions

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Samoan
• music
• video
• entertainment
• culture
• dance

[QLV07]

Its not putting cultural things before God, its about using the best things about ourselves, our culture and all its aspects to give glory and honour to God. Well thats the meaning behind what you see in the start of the clip, behind the "inculturation" within the Mass.

[QLV07]

Well, in the Mass the whole purpose in including Samoan culture in a Samoan Mass is to offer to God what we Samoans can best give, i.e our mea sina, ie toga, our traditional dancing, our matai, our singing all the best and most beautiful things about our culture.

[QLV07]

alongside the bread and wine are taupou the village maidens who are held in highest esteem within their villages, 'princesses' dance in leading the offertory procession, also matai who are the highest in stature in Samoan social hierarchy process in accompaniment of gifts, ie toga which is one of Samoa's precious mea sina is taken up as a gift. If you were to offer up things to God what would you take? the best you had right?

[QLV07]

For instance, the Offertory/Taulaga you see in the clip, where the taupous are dancing, matai and ie toga held by others are in a procession up toward the altar, the best english translation for Taulaga is 'sacrifice' or 'offerring' and in the Offertory in a Mass, people take up "the work of their human hands" in form of bread and wine to the altar symbolic of peoples' hardwork and labour, something tangible which is the best of what they can humanly give (their work)

[QLV07]

Katinale Pio Taofinu'u promoted this "in-culturation" and in the clip you see him at the altar as the main celebrant of the Mass. Our culture in this context does not take anything away from God, but rather adds to our giving to Him, adds to our praise and worship

[QLV07]

Vatican Council II affirmed that peoples of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds could incorporate cultural aspects to the Mass aslong as it didnt take away the sacredness and holiness of the Mass

[QLV07]

What you see in the beginning of this clip is a Catholic Mass in Samoa where our beautiful cultural traditiions are incorporated into certain parts of the Mass

[QLV07]

theres nothing wrong with incorporating our culture into our worship and praise of God, our culture is a gift from God.

[flyingh20]

Not all churches (Religion) do this in their chapels...but you're right, God should be above the culture...and no offence to any one...true, traditions have been around for 1000's of years BUT God has been around longer than anything...anyways nice music and scenery.

[wdeadman49]

What I'm saying is...we shouldn't mix the worldy stuff with worshipping God....although it is new now that all Samoan churches are doing this in Samoa, this can be accepted by God I'm sure..if it's done with a pure heart in worshiping the Almighty!!!