O le Sulu Samoa research project

11/04/2025

Congratulations to the Pacific Theological College on its 60th anniversary as well as the upcoming launch of its new Pacific Communities University!

From the Sulu archives, the 1968 Sulu editor, Tanielu Ioelu proudly reports on its inaugral graduation ceremony attended by many including Ratu Mara O.B.E. for its first degree and certificate graduates including PTC student president Lale Ieremia, fellow Malua representatives Masalosalo Fiu and Ioritana Tanielu from Samoa, Piula Methodist Theological College principal Siatua Leuluai also from Samoa, Sione Alo Fakahua from Tonga and Laisiasa Ratabacaca from Fiji. Vinaka Suliana Moce for photos from the PTC archives.

Certificate graduates include Brewe Eritaia from Kiribati, Senituli Koloi and Siosaia Tava Tupou from Tonga, Hana Lalie and Waimo Passil from New Caledonia, Pikka Matauto from Marshall Islands, Viliame Tagi from Fiji, Temple Perete and Maraeara Tejii from Cook Islands.
Best wishes for a successful launch, from O le Sulu Samoa research project

25/12/2024

(Tulou) Sulu obituaries are often resplendant with family, village and church histories spanning generations, islands and national borders. Births, baptisms, villages, titles, marriages, relationships, education, service, employment opportunities, personalities all build moving biographies. They also glean insight into the writer, often a community leader, who had nurtured and known their subject intimately.

25/12/2024

A short compelling history of diasporic Samoan appeals (from Austraila) to connect with the home EFKS Church. After multiple campaigns by Rev Tepa Faletoese, the general assembly finally assented, leading to the establishment of the Australian EFKS District. The article is published in the May 1984 Sulu, with words of encouragement by Fa'afouina Iofi in San Diego. He was a member of the first Samoan church established in the US military quarters, San Diego post WW2 in the early 1950s. A full register if its founding members is also recorded in the Sulu.

The first Australian EFKS district register included Rev Tepa Faletoese's led EFKS Balmain of 9 families; EFKS Fairfield of 4 families led by Rev Fuafiva Leiataua; EFKS Fairfield of 4 families led by Toese Peleti; EFKS Campsie without a pastor; EFKS Brisbane led by the then Aoao Fesoasoani Urika Saifoloi.

12/11/2024

Va'a lotu. There were many perilous yet heart warming accounts reported by Sulu writers as they traversed the vasa loaloa from Papua, Sydney, Fiji, Apia, Tutuila, Rarotonga, Tokelau, Niue, Kiribati and Tuvalu during the 19th -20th centuries. Although deeply grounded in their Christian faith, missionaries, missionary wives, teachers, nurses (travel writers) were forced to reckon with what it meant to be untethered from their own lands. A ubiquitous sense of longing and a greater sense of purpose are constantly revealed. Early accounts of exposure to the elements, loss of life and sea burials are heart rendering. Eventually, the shift from sailing to steamer technology immensely improved safety, comfort and reduced the time of such journeys.

Seven John Williams ships in total, which operated from 1844 - 1968 provided employment opportunities for young Pacific men as sailors, although there is much to be learned about their histories. I hope such stories continue to be part of family lore, and part of a study one day.

04/11/2024

I le ava tele, e momoli atu ai se fa'afetai fa'atauva'a ma lē atoatoa i le paia ma le mamalu o Fa'afeagaiga, Faifeau ma o latou faletua, Tama ma Tina pen*sione o lo'o fesoasoani mai i lenei poloketi. Thank you to the Samoan church historians, researchers, theologians, writers, linguists, archivists and academics who continue to provide invaluable insights into the literary and publishing culture of the Sulu. Viia le Alii, faafetaia pea le alofa o le Atua ona ua a'e ma le manuia le vaega muamua o lenei poloketi.

Fa'afetai i lau Afioga Tootoooleaava Dr Fanaafi Aiono Le Tagaloa, o Susuga Faafeagaiga Pen*sione malolo manumalo ia Lale Ieremia, Ioritana Tanielu ma le Faletua ia Dr Lonise Tanielu, Fuifui ma Ropeta Teevale, Senetenari Iupeli ma Rosetta Iupeli, le Susuga ia Rev Dr Featuna'i Liua'ana ma Perise Liua'ana, Rev Tafatolu Lelevaga Apelu ma Merina Ieremia-Apelu, Tanya Lagaali Ieremia, Litara Ieremia-Allan, Rev Apelu Tielu, Rev Dr Brian Kolia ma Ta'a Kolia, Aumua Dr. Luafata Simanu, Dr Aleluia Filemoni- Tofaeono, Keseta Okenaisa Fauolo, Fauolo Apevai Karisi Mataafa, Tamari Multialo-Cheung, Peone Fuimaono-Solomona, Rev Eletise Palemene ma le anoa'i o e sa tapuaia ma lagolagoina lenei fa'amoemoe.

19/10/2023

Repost from 'The Museum of Samoa' page.

Back row L-R: Rev J.W Hills (Leulumoega trades college - Nuuausala - school shifted from Leulumoega to Malua in 1925), Mr Griffin (Former printer of the Malborough Times/ head printer of Malua missionary printhouse), Rev Morley (Savai'i), Rev Hough(?). Front row L-R: Mrs Hills (Leulumoega), Miss Valenza Shultze (Papauta Girls), Rev Newell (SDC sec and Malua superintendant), Miss Joiliff? (Papauta Girls) and possibly Mrs Hough? Can anyone identify two ladies on far right?

19/10/2023

Aoga a Faifeau was one of the earliest and formative (western) primary education programmes in Samoa. Established in 1893 by the London Missionary Society, its programmes were run by local Faifeau in village pastorates across Samoa and American Samoa with its monthly curriculum circulated in the 'O le Sulu Samoa' newspaper - Samoa's earliest newspaper. Here is a 1900 Pastor school programme. 1890 - 1910 was a significant foundational period of Protestant education in Samoa. It followed the establishment of the Samoan Missionary Seminary (Malua Institute) in 1844.

reposting 'The Museum of Samoa' page.

27/03/2023

Aua nei ia te i matou le Alii e,
Aua nei ia matou,
Ae ia fo'i atu le viiga i lau Afio ona ua e alofaina le tagata faatauvaa. Avea lenei taimi e faaleoina ai le agaga o le faafetai i aiga, o uo aemaise le paia sei tulou o outou mamalu ona o lo outou amanaia o le galuega ae maise o le faamoemoe o loo taumafai nei. E ui ina e lei maea le faamoemoe, ae le tuua ai le fia faafetai ona o le tuu mai o outou tauau e lagolagoina i soo se itu lenei faamoemoe.

https://www.loopsamoa.com/samoa-news/pacific-phd-candidate-follows-father%E2%80%99s-footsteps-cambridge-118766?fbclid=IwAR3_R4uwzBZuf-HYxwFsG-0jAQhj2SKHcu4B6CX8gwS9Mfi7FSqtGM1yO3k

PhD candidate Wanda Ieremia-Allan would spend Sunday afternoons delivering O Le Sulu Samoa newspaper as a young girl.

19/03/2023

Apologies to everyone who has sent requests through in search of their ancestor's writing over the last couple of months. I am thinking through a better way to meet this incredible demand. Vai malu i o outou finagalo. Fa'afetai.

Photo: 1839 issue courtesy of the Mitchell Library, NSW

24/08/2022

An article celebrating the arrival of Christianity in Sapapalii, Savaii was written by Leaiataua S (J.P) in the June 1944 Sulu.

Many other articles commemorating this auspicious arrival and the celebrations of the day, including guests, festivities and fa'aaloaloga featured in the following twentieth century issues: 1915 Oketopa; 1916 Oketopa; 1923 Mati; 1930 Mati; 1944 Iuni; 1944 Sept; Nov 1955 etc.