Whispers & Vanities

This collection of essays and selected poetry responds to an address on Samoan religious culture given by Samoa’s Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Tupuola Tufuga Efi, to the 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions. The address challenges some fundamental aspects of and assumptions in modern Samoan indigenous religious culture.

• His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta'isi Tupuloa Tufuga Efi, Author

  His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Ta’isi Efi holds nationally recognised traditional chiefly titles and is seen across Samoa to be one of the leading custodians of Samoa’s indigenous knowledge. He was former Head of State of Samoa, a position he held from 2007 to 2017. He was also former Prime Minister of Samoa, Leader of the, then, Opposition Party (Samoa Democratic United Party) and a Member of the Samoa Parliament from 1966‒2004. He is recognised internationally for his work on, what he describes as, Samoa’s indigenous reference.

• Albert Wendt, Author

  ʻO le atamai o aliʻi, le Susuga Maualaʻivao Albert Wendt ʻo se tusitala lāuiloa i le Pasefika ma ʻo se polofesa ʻua lītaea mai le Iunivesitē o 'Aukilani, Niu Sila.
  
  
  Maualaivao Albert Wendt is the Pacific’s most renowned writer. He is an emeritus professor at Auckland University.

• Jenny Plane Te Paa Daniel Vitolia Moa, Author