Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
The Samoan grandmother who was the subject of filmmaker Nikki Siulepa’s eponymous short film Ma, has died.
Leiataua Taito Afega ‘Ma’ Si’ulepa left her beloved village of Solaua in Samoa for a new beginning in New Zealand in 1954 at the age of 19.
Having raised her family of 11 children, Leiataua showed no signs of slowing down and at the age of 80, turned her attention to a career in film.
The short film ‘Ma’, based on Leiataua’s life, is about a Samoan grandmother trying to survive on her own in a house filled with her life’s collections.
Written and directed by her granddaughter, writer, actor and director Nikki Si’ulepa, it proved a to be a hit on the festival circuit. It saw Leiataua travel to promote the films ‘Ma’ and later, the short film ‘Maria’, at eight film festivals in places like Hawai’i, LA, Toronto, Finland and around Aotearoa.
Leiataua’s daughter Siteine Peta Si’ulepa, a well known musician and Jazz singer who performs in American Samoa and Samoa, shared a heartfelt tribute to her mother on Facebook.
“Because of YOU – the Women in our family are who we are today. You are the wind beneath our wings MA.”
In an interview with Tagata Pasifika in 2017, Leiataua said at the age of 80 she became an actor and she loved it!
“If this old lady from Samoa in the bush can do it, you can too.Now I’m an actor and I’m a movie star and I’m very happy about it.”
