Read on to learn about the history of Te Fou – the Tuvalu head garland.
This week is Tuvalu language Week! Tuvalu is made up of nine inhabited islands with a population of about 11,000. It is the fourth-smallest nation in the world and lies midway between Australia and Hawaii.
This year’s theme for Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week is Fakaakoigina tou iloga kae tukeli ke magoi mote ataeao which means embracing our culture and a more secure, vibrant future.
Fakaakoigina tou iloga kae tukeli ke magoi mote ataeao highlights the important role language and culture has when securing a vibrant future for Tuvaluans across Aotearoa. It encourages language and culture to be embraced to build strong foundations of perseverance, success, and health equity.
By taking a holistic view of wellbeing and positive outcomes, the theme is also a reminder of the power of embracing both traditional and new ways of doing things especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s theme reflects the overarching 2021 Pacific Language Week theme of Wellbeing, by linking the importance of language to overall wellbeing.
Celebrate and connect online by visiting the official NZ Tuvalu Language Week Facebook page!
The Legend of Te Fou
In the video, (and script below) Eliala Fihaki explains the history of Te Fou – the head garland that is an important part of Tuvalu culture.
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Te Fou: Weaving Life by Eliala Fihaki
Talofa te malu ote nofoakiga tatou fanau salalau Tuvalu I feitu e fa ote lalolagi. Toku igoa ko Eliala kae fakatulou atu ki malu kesekese mo koulua kona e fakalogologo mai. E muamua o Vikia kae tavaea ne tatou te alofa ote tamana mote ola mote malosi, pela foki tena kaufakatasi kite ta atu fenua ko aulia mai tatou kite 43 tausaga tutokotasi o Tuvalu mai te malo o Peletainia. Ia e pela mo fakatokaga fakamoe I luga I NZ nei e famailoga ne tatou te tutokotasi kite vaiaso ote gagana Tuvalu. Kaati se avanoaga gali ke mafai ne tatou o fakapatino fakatasi te vaiaso ote gagana Tuvalu maise tutokotasi e ui ei te nofo mao taua mai ite taa atufenua.
Talofa and greetings. My name is Eliala and I am grateful for this opportunity. Firstly I acknowledged God’s faithfulness in our lives as well as the life of Tuvalu as a nation. On Thursday this week the 1 October we will celebrate 43 years of Tuvalu’s independence from the British colony. In NZ we celebrate this milestone together through the language week or te vaiaso ote gagana Tuvalu. In light of the theme Fakaakoigina tou iloga kae tukeli ke magoi mote ataeao, embracing our culture and a more secure, vibrant future I would like to tell you the story of the fou and its significance to Tuvalu’s culture.
According to legend, Te fou was first discovered by the people of Nukufetau one of the eight islands that make Tuvalu group. This is a recreation of that legend by Mr Nofoaiga Lafita.
“Long, long, time ago on Nukufetau, there lived a skillful fisherman by the name of Tauasa. It is believed that Tauasa was a demigod half man and half god. One of his many powers was that he was as fast as the wind.
But more importantly he was the leoleo (protector) of the island, protecting the land especially against evil spirits.
One night Tauasa could see flickering lights from the distant islet of Motulalo, as he approached the islet, he could hear voices. When he peered over the bushes, he saw spirits/witches or agaga fafine with their heads adorned with strings of beautiful flowers. They were weaving flowers in a way he had never seen before. They were chanting in an unfamiliar tongue and the sweet scent of the flowers mixed with the salty air evoked his senses in a way he had never experienced before. Thinking tactically Tauasa gently lowered the scoop of his hand-net as the agaga fafine, unknowingly filled it with these strings of flowers.
After some time Tauasa retrieved the net, hoisted it on his shoulder and ran as fast as he could to the Island village called Fale. The agaga fafine, gave chase but were too slow for Tauasa. As they approached Fale, they found Tauasa seated in the middle of the village meeting hall Fale Kaupule. He was surrounded by the people of Nukufetau with brightly-lit torches known as mauifa. Fearing that they may be seen with daylight approaching they retreated into the mist leaving behind the mysterious string of scented flowers known today as the fou.
Literally translated Fou is the Tuvaluan word for new or something new. As a new discovery to the people of Nukufetau this string of scented flowers was given the name fou. Te fou is usually made by women and is passed down from mothers, to their daughters or granddaughters. The colors represent the diverse but limited flowering plants of Tuvalu.
It is worn by all, men, women and children during traditional feasting, dancing, fatele, it’s also worn by people to work. Fou is given to visitors when they arrive, welcoming them to the island.
There is a common saying in Tuvalu “tou fou ne filigina ki muna mo pati tapu ote fale” meaning “your garland was woven with love and wisdom”. A mother makes a fou from tiale (gardenia), pua (guattarda), and melia (pumeria).
A young girl’s life is symbolized by the pula (flowers) of the fou that she wears throughout her life – it’s her identity and hopes for the future as a Tuvaluan woman.
Toku fou or my head garland.
Living in NZ, my fou is made from ornamental foreign flowers like the one I’m wearing and although I may not be accessible to the same exotic Tuvaluan flowers I can still pass on love and wisdom which are deeply rooted in my identity. My fou emanates the values and beliefs that were crafted and woven through the generations. Today, we must continue to wear our fou to celebrate that unique identity as Tuvaluans to embrace our culture and secure it for a vibrant future.
E toe taotao atu mai konei faka akoigina tou iloga kae tukeli mo ataeao.
KE MANUIA TE VAIASO OTE GAGANA TUVALU MOTE TUTOKOTASI.