Cultural Village will showcase Samoa
A Cultural Village will be part of the Games Village where teams will stay during the Samoa XVI Pacific Games.
“This will give a glimpse of Samoan culture and hospitality and an understanding of who we are as Samoans,” said Eka Arp, Pacific Games Office Village Operations Manager. “It’s more than just being good hosts, but making a connection for our neighbouring countries.”
Eka and her team are operating the Games Village at the Faleula Methodist Compound owned by the Samoan Methodist Church. For them it is all about ensuring the guests will have the best experience during the Games.
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Fire dancing will be on the schedule at the Cultural Village.
“We are to host the best we can, give the best we can and everything that we can for our guests that will be arriving to our shores soon,” she continued. “The Cultural Village is going good and there’ll be performances such as fire knife dancing.
"We will have a schedule to show what will happen during daytime and the night and we have performers that have come on board.”
The students of Laumua o Punaoa Technical Centre - owned by the Methodist Church in Faleula - will be showcasing their handicrafts around the Cultural Village during the Games.
“The Punaoa students will be demonstrating the making of handcrafts, like tanoa fai’ava (or kava bowl) and elei (a traditional form of hand block printing) and weaving of baskets and fans. There is also a demonstration of husking of coconuts and making coconut cream.”
Tanoa fai’ava or kava bowl.
Eka added: “We are also looking at providing light refreshment, such as coconut juice, at the Cultural Village and possibly a photo booth with some traditional clothing for any athletes who want to try them on and take photos as souvenirs.”
The Cultural Village is located next to the Fire Emergency Assembly Point, on the field close to the Methodist Parish.
“We are trying to create an area for the athletes to come and hang out and experience a little bit of culture.”
