“Return to AITU”
Film by Lindah Lepou (2017)
“There were gasps and tears”
“Telesā” Song
Written by Lindah Lepou
Composer & Performed by Aivale Cole
Courtesy of AITU Records © 2020 / APRA and Recording MUSIC NZ
(Available on iTunes NOW!)
“Homage to AITU”
Photography by George Buckleton (2012)
“Telesā” (ma Laumei)
Teine-Sā,
Sliding Rocks, Papase’ea, Se’ese’e, Upolu, SAMOA.
Ancient aitu / spirit women who shape-shift between material and non-physical worlds, maintaining balance, casting blessings or curses.
Pronounced: (Teh-Leh-Sah)
“Taemā” (ma Tilafaigā)
Tama’ita’i-Sā.
White Rocks, Salelavalu, Savai’i, SAMOA.
“Marks of Mana” (The legend of Samoan Tatau” by Lisa Taouma
Pronounced: (Tah-Ehh-Mah)
“Nafanua” (goddess of War)
Fale-Sā.
Catholic Church, Falealupo, Savai’i, SAMOA.
Built in 1885. Destroyed by Cyclone “OFA” in 1990.
Man-made structures come and go. AITU remain.
Pronounced: (Nah-Fah-Noo-Wah)
AITU
Pronounced : (Ahh-Eee-To)
Pre-Colonisation, meaning: ‘Ancestor’, and/or ‘Spirit’. Post-Colonisation, meaning: ‘Demon’.
AIGA
Pronounced : (Ahh-Eee-Gah) “Aiga” meaning family.