Tagata Pasifika

The Pacific voice on
New Zealand television
since 1987

Tagata Pasifika

The Pacific voice on
New Zealand television
since 1987

Wāhine Toa making a stamp in Siva Afi – Samoan fire knife dancing

Siva Afi female dancer Wahine Toa Siva Afi
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Ann-Tauilo Motuga | Reporter/Videographer

The Wāhine Toa Siva Afi group has one goal in mind and that is to encourage, educate and empower our Pasifika women to take up the siva afi/fire knife dance art form. Although it is predominately a male-dominated sport, the Samoan history reveals that the war club, or the nifo oti, used by the dancers belongs to a Samoan Goddess named Nafanua.

The birth of the art form was created by Chief Letuli in 1946, where he added flames on both sides of the nifo oti.

Ann-Tauilo Motuga got the chance to see the group in action at a recent event in Māngere, South Auckland.

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