Playlist:  Ritual, Ceremony and Festival: Ethnographic Footage by Jenna Makowski, Alexander Street Press

One role of the ethnographer is to capture, document and preserve cultural, social and community events as they occur in real time. The films in this playlist are a testament to living traditions across the Pacific. From recordings of music and dance festivals and footage of the Fijian president’s funeral to rare documentation of Samoan gift-giving presentations, these records were captured by indigenous filmmakers and provide a unique window through which to view indigenous traditions through an indigenous lens.
Format
Artwork
Title
Notes
Duration / Pages
Date added
 
Pesepesega a le Gataula: Traditional Samoan Songs of the Gataula
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2008), 1 hour 2 mins  
The Gataula is a men's singing group from the village of Asua in Savaii. This film captures over an hour of singing and includes a brief commentary in the Samoan language. The group performed for Their Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi and Masiofo Filifilia Tamesese Ta'isi during a visit they made to the village in early January 2008.
01:02:15
30 Sep 2014
O le Ava Faatupu
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2008), 38 mins  
Samoa's rich and distinctive culture is vividly expressed in this film capturing a royal ceremonial presentation of the sacred 'ava to Arikinui Kingi Tuheitia on the occassion of his visit to Their Highnesses Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi and Masiofo Filifilia Tamasese. Held at the Resident of the Head of State in Vailele, Samoa, on the 18th of July 2008, the visit was made during a stopover by the visitors who were enroute to the 10th Pacific Arts Festival in American Samoa.
37:50
30 Sep 2014
O le Afi Tunu a le Tutu ma le Vaa o Salelesi [ceremony]
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2008), 18 mins  
WARNING: This film contains scenes that may be considered offensive. Viewer discretion is advised. O le afi tunu a le Tupu ma le vaa o Salelesi is an old ritual rarely performed in Samoa since the arrival of Christianity. The event was captured during the week His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi presented gifts of thanksgiving (o'o) to the Government of Samoa, religious leaders, and the Judiciary in December 2007.
18:20
30 Sep 2014
O le Afi Tunu a le Tupu [ceremony commentary in Samoan]
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2008), 29 mins  
WARNING: This film contains scenes that may be considered offensive. Viewer discretion is advised. O le afi tunu a le Tupu ma le vaa o Salelesi is an old ritual rarely performed in Samoa since the arrival of Christianity. The event was captured during the week His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi presented gifts of thanksgiving (o'o) to the Government of Samoa, religious leaders, and the Judiciary in December 2007.
28:30
30 Sep 2014
O le Afi Tunu a le Tupu [ceremony commentary in English]
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2008), 30 mins  
WARNING: This film contains scenes that may be considered offensive. Viewer discretion is advised. O le afi tunu a le Tupu ma le vaa o Salelesi is an old ritual rarely performed in Samoa since the arrival of Christianity. The event was captured during the week His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi presented gifts of thanksgiving (o'o) to the Government of Samoa, religious leaders, and the Judiciary in December 2007.
29:41
30 Sep 2014
O le O'o o le Ao o le Malo: Aiga Sa Ta'isi
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2007), 49 mins  
This film captures the presentation of traditional gifts during a week-long ceremony known as the o'o. Gifts were presented to the Government, Religious leaders and Judiciary on behalf of His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi. This presentation was made by Aiga Sa-Ta'isi.
49:13
30 Sep 2014
O le O'o o le Ao o le Malo: Aiga Sa Mavaega
directed by Steven Percival, fl. 2002 (Apia, Tuamasaga District: Paradigm Documentaries, 2007), 1 hour 30 mins  
This film captures the presentation of traditional gifts during a week-long ceremony known as the o'o. Gifts were presented to the Government, Religious leaders and Judiciary on behalf of His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi. This presentation was made by Aiga Sa-Mavaega.
01:29:44
30 Sep 2014
1st Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival
produced by Solomon Islands National Museum. Photographic & Audio Visual Section, in 1st Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival (New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), 1999), 53 mins  
The 1st Melanesian Arts Festival gathering at Solomon Island.
52:30
30 Sep 2014
3rd Melanesian Arts & Culture Festival: Living Cultures, Living Traditions
directed by Aren Baoa, fl. 2011 (New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), 2006), 22 mins  
The 3rd Melanesian Arts Festival was held in Suva, Fiji in 2006 and true to its objective captured and promoted the essence of arts, crafts and dances known to these countries.
21:37
30 Sep 2014
4th Melanesian Arts & Culture Festival: Our Identity Lies Ahead of Us
directed by Larry Thomas, 1961- (New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), 2010), 20 mins  
The 4th Melanesian Arts & Cultural Festival was held in New Caledonia in 2010. The festival captured and promoted the essence of arts, crafts and dances from Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.
19:42
30 Sep 2014
The 8th Festival of Pacific Arts: Voices of the Pacific
directed by Conrad Mill, fl. 1991; produced by Rhonda Griffiths, fl. 2004 (New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), 2003), 40 mins  
The recording shows the exhibition of Arts and Culture in the different Pacific countries.
40:20
30 Sep 2014
The 9th Festival of Pacific Arts: Oltobed a Malt
produced by Ernest Ongidobel, fl. 2000, Republic of Palau and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), in The 9th Festival of Pacific Arts: Oltobed a Malt (New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), 2004), 44 mins  
This film recounts the events and the highlights of the 9th Festival of Arts and for 10 days, Islanders of diverse nationalities performed, spoke about, and demonstrated their cultures and what it means to be a Pacific Islander in the 21st century.
44:16
30 Sep 2014
10th Festival of Pacific Arts
directed by Aren Baoa, fl. 2011 (New Caledonia: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Organization), 2008), 40 mins  
The Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) is regarded as the premiere festival of the Pacific. The festival provides the opportunity for Pacific Islanders to share their knowledge and experiences and celebrate who they are as oceanic people. This documentary gives you a glimpse of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts in American Samoa in 2008.
40:14
30 Sep 2014
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