The Hoyts Cinema at Sylvia Park in Auckland took a church-like transformation over the weekend, as members of the public flocked through for the premiere screening of Soul Sessions “White Sunday” special.
The special, is a partnership between ECG and the Ministry of Education. The purpose was to provide a comprehensive ‘White Sunday’ experience for those not familiar with the day and its importance.
The month of May was specifically chosen as the premiere date to celebrate “Fakame” – our Tongan Children’s White Sunday and to commemorate Rotuman Language Week.
The Soul Sessions series uses the Rotuman word “Hanuju” which means kōrero or talanoa as a way of contributing to the preservation of indigenous Pacific languages which is visualised in the special.
The film showcased Bible verse recitals, singing, dancing, and drama performances from different youth groups and Sunday schools around the city.
“I loved how you can really walk away and understand what White Sunday is, even if you’ve never heard about it before,” says Sara-Jane Elika, executive producer of the Soul Sessions White Sunday Special.
“I think it’s important for our Pacific children to know that they are valued, to know that their culture, their language, and their whole selves are really special. They should know that God made them that way, and that’s something they should be proud of,” shared Auckland councillor, Lotu Fuli.
For those present, the White Sunday Special was a celebration of identity, culture, language, and lifestyle for young Pacific kids in New Zealand.
