Finemats Maiden Display kickstart Mothers Day Celebrations

Apia, Samoa – 08 May 2025 – A noisy parade of singing, cheering and dancing women led by the police band, stopped traffic on the Apia Beach Road as mothers from around the country took part in the traditional ceremony of fa’alelegapepe or the maiden public display of newly woven high-valued fine mats.

The parade ended at the To’oā Salamasina Hall where the official program for the Fuataga Competition took place marking the beginning of the Mother’s Day celebrations program.

Across from the hall at Malaefatu Playground were already a group of women selling pot-plants, clothing, food and a variety of goods as part of Mothers Day event.

The Fuataga Competition is coordinated by the Ministry of Women as an effort to revive and maintain the art and knowledge of fine mat or Ietoga making and weaving.

The fine mat maintains a significant and high-priced value in every aspect of Samoan culture and is also known as the Ie ole Ola (cloth of life) as its used to seek forgiveness and maintain peace in the traditional ceremony of Ifoga where the offending party are covered by the finemat in seeking forgiveness from the offended party.

In this weeks Fuataga event, the Minister for the Ministry of Women Social Development & Community, Lagaaia Ti’aitu’au Tufuga acknowledged the hard work by the women of Samoa and their contribution to maintaining Samoan culture and the development of families, villages and country.

He also emphasized the women’s leading role in safeguarding Samoa’s Measina by not only continuing to weave, but passing down the knowledge and skills to the younger generations.

Through the Ministry’s Fuataga program, the number of Women’s Committees supporting the program has dropped and this is due to age and the lack of interest from the younger generations.

However, the Fuataga program is an advocator to ensuring that the knowledge and art of weaving fine mats continues.

“I acknowledge your work and today marks the important contribution of women in the development of Samoa through the Fuataga program that was established 30 years ago,” said Lagaaia.

The showcasing of fine mats and siapo is the result of the year-long competition.

This year, the Mulifanua Women’s Committee scooped the winning award for the second time for weaving the best fine mats.

The Afega Women’s Committee took the award in the Siapo category.

A number of events and Womens Markets are on display this weekend in the lead up to the Mothers Day celebrations through the country on Sunday with a Public Holiday on the following Monday.