Tali Tonuga Anamua

Talitonuga Anamua was prepared by American Samoan educators in the early 1980’s (referenced elsewhere), whose goal was to compile and thereby preserve the important stories, tales, myths about Samoan culture and history, and to provide brief explanatory essays about the ancient, old, and contemporary Samoan practices and customs which define and explain who we are as a unique people, worthy of preservation and honor. Since this website was first dedicated to Dorothy (Dotsy or “Tasi”) Kneubuhl’s art, we point out that her work reflects this restrained goal of broad appeal, and manifests simplicity, humor, empathy and sympathy. The 1980 collaborators’ goal was to present this culture to the youth by providing scholastic materials for use in the schools. To reach the widest audience (beyond the mandatory curriculum), the writers and editors made some obvious decisions: They asked, Which stories are essential? What values are foundational to the culture to be preserved? What is the compendium of knowledge the children require? This daunting task required that they achieve a comprehensive volume, but avoid controversy, remain chaste in their language, choose only what is positive, minimize what is controversial, and emphasize the positive aspects of their culture. In this way, they were no different from any scholastic enterprise anywhere, including European cultures who are charged with the education of children. Talitonuga Anamua was aimed at youngsters who needed the basics. The editorial choices are therefore overwhelmingly kind, uplifting, hopeful, informative, respectful, charming, and filled with stories of the audacious risk taking, bravery and love of family which characterize Samoan values and culture. It avoids the brutal and violent realities, the political scheming and the frank injustices which occurred in Samoa, and, in fact, everywhere else. As such, it stands in great contrast to the realism and romanticism of the other two volumes.