“I’m always in awe and inspired by the competitors, that I must pick up my fire knife and start spinning again” Tom Natoealofa (Siva Afi Festival M.C).

A fiery wake up call. Siva Afi (fire knife dancing) is here to stay in Auckland, New Zealand. Hype is there. Talent is outstanding. We are ready. As Tom mentioned above, the competition was so inspiring it made one want to pick up the art again. Some of the most beautiful Siva Afi moments I have seen (having grown up around it all my life), were at this event.

In its fourth year, this festival brought both national and International competitors together under the warmth of the fire knife. Upon many things, this festival made the crowd view Siva Afi as more than a finale dance at a hotel revue, or a themed party performance, where many non-Pacific people have seen the Samoan fire knife. Instead, the quality and number of fire knife dancers meant the crowd got to see these competitors for who they are, fierce warriors, who are agile athletes and top-notch entertainers. As a practice, mostly seen among grown men as a sign of strength, it was refreshing to also see the wahine (female) and rangatahi (youth) division. The standard of competition displayed was so high, that some of the female and youth competitors were spinning the fire knife faster and doing more complicated tricks, than some of the older male dancers I had seen growing up (no shade).

The esteemed judging panel with Siva Afi veterans and Samoan performing arts practitioners such as David Galea’i, was also a highlight, in role modelling champions of the art, and showcasing the career opportunities that Siva Afi had afforded them.

Although the Siva Afi festival was a competition, with official winners (well deserved, may I add), to me, this event was less about the placings and spinning fire, and more about the metaphoric burning flame. Seeing everyone’s reactions and speaking with those involved in the festival, it was clear that it was less about crowd entertainment, and more about keeping the art of fire knife dancing alive, and the flame burning for our people. As a Matai (Chief) whose PhD is on Samoan cultural sustainability this festival is vital for the cultural sustainability of our people in diaspora (Enari & Taula, 2022). for some at the festival, this may be one of the few ways they connect to their Samoan culture, whilst for others, it may be an avenue to learn more about their language and customs. As a Samoan, I believe it is our duty and responsibility to ensure the fire is lit (learning our culture and customs) and remains burning (continual learning) and the fire spreads (teaching others our culture). 

Everyone at the festival from competitors, audience members and judges are winners, as holding this space is another way of keeping our culture and Siva Afi alive. May this festival continue, get more funding and may it be appreciated by our people, and the wider New Zealand society for this generation and for the next to come. Alofa atu. 

Reference

Enari, D., & Taula, L. (2022). Tattoo my mouth: Samoan language survival in Australia. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 18(1), 215-218.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/11771801221084884

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