by LEVA - O - ATUA - MA - A'ANA ROSITTA LEVI LEOTA

Talofa and Greetings to you all. As most of you may have known me by now.  My name is Leva-O-Atua-Ma-A'ana Rositta Levi Leota. I am named after my great-great-great-great grandmother who is from the village of Lufilufi.

Leva sitting on the tomb of her great great great great grandmother in Mulinu'u in the heart of the village of Lufilufi. The tomb sits behind the recently built and vacated Maota of Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese after he was evicted by the village of Lufiilufi in 2010.

Leva and her aunt Rita Hughes Scott both beside the tomb of Leva - O - Atua - Ma - A'ana in Mulinu'u in the village of Lufilufi.

Leva and her aunt Rita Hughes Scott inside the vacant Maota built by Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese.

----------------------------------------------------

For those who do not know me, my grandmother is Rositta Iona Levi who is the 11th sibling out of 14 of Seumanutafa Loligi and Simeanamulu of Apia.  My grandfather is Rev Iona Levi who is the 5th sibling out of 7 of Rev Levi and Perelini from the villages of Lago and Papa Sataua, Savai'i.  I am therefore a 3rd generation of Seu Loligi.  I was asked by Aunty Vinepa Aiono if I can write a report on our family blog. I thought about it for sometime whether I should do it or not but then decided to go ahead with it because of my overwhelming love (alofa) for my family. 

First and foremost, I would like to give this opportunity to thank my Uncle's Fepulea'i Tautia Levi, Uluomato'otua Saulaulu Aiono, Fepulea'i Koki Avei, Pastor Pita Uo, Opelu Pili Foutanu, Robinson Avei, Amituana'i Siaki Avei and Punipuniolo Aiono for reorganising this family unity.  I would also like to acknowledge my Great Uncle Lei'ataua Fa'atoafe Seumanutafa for his support. His input of opinions and ideas is a massive contribution to the family project.  I know that anything is possible if we put our faith to the Lord. 

Uluomato'otua Aiono seated with Tusa Muagututi'a a family member from Lufilufi at the tomb of our ancestor Leva - O - Atua - Ma - A'ana.  Tusa and his family are guardians of the area and his family have continued to secure the care and management of the tomb as well as family histories.

Uluomato'otua Aiono and Tusa Muagututi'a pictured on the steps of the vacated Maota built by Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese who was banished by the village.

--------------------------------------------------

When the family gathering officially recommenced in 2007, I was present at the time and from then on I made myself included in all the family gatherings, meetings, and reunions and also when the boys do the umu, I was there. I am so grateful for the opportunity to write this report because I know that I have been there at all times.  My Fa'aSamoa may not be fluent when speaking but listening was enough to understand what the uncles and aunties were talking about.  I began to slowly build up this love and passion for my family of wanting to do something so bad for the family house to be rebuilt. I believe there are still obstacles, challenges and struggles but if we have one mind, one heart and most of all one spirit uniting together, we can overcome anything. My dream is for the Seumanutafa family to move forward and have the potential to overcome any obstacles that would intervene with our family plan. 

I am therefore organising our first 3rd Generation Gig with the help of cousin Ted (Tautia) Pogai very soon.  I will follow up via email regarding the Gig which is in March.  I am  positive that our generation will offer to bring their best and nothing but the best to help arrange  some activities together regarding our family house in Samoa.

To all the cousins here in New Zealand, Samoa and other parts of the world.  I just want to say fa'amalolosi and do not look back.  Let's come together and do something not only for us but for our future generations.  Be determined, be positive and be consistent. 

Fa'afetai lava ma Ia Manuia

Leva – O – Atua -  Ma – Aana (Leva)  Rositta Leota

2011 - EVENTS

And so the plans for rebuilding the family home are about to commence. After decades of discussion it appears that the Seumanutafa Loligi descendants have decided that the time has arrived for the extended family to excavate and rebuild the family home that was once a focal point of family gatherings. As with any family there is always a central meeting point where family members are able to identify their origins and so it is with the land in Apia where Seumanutafa Loligi and Simeanamulu established their home for their children and descendants. March 2011 represents the beginning of plans to develop the family plot for the benefit of all family members and descendants.



The family members who travelled to Samoa have determined that these plans shall materialise this year.

2009 - New Zealand Seumanutafa Family Celebration Highlights

The Loligi branch of the Seumanutafa family held their annual Auckland Anniversary weekend celebrations on the 24th January 2009 in what could only be called - piercing hot weather conditions. The event was held at the home of Uluomato'otua Aiono. The event was co-ordinated and led by Fepulea'i Tautia Levi and the committee Reverend Pita Uo, Fepulea'i Koki (Cochise) Avei, Amituana'i Siaki Avei, Opelu Foutanu and Rita Hughes Scott. The day began with an umu, an opportunity for younger members of some of the Kiwi branches to learn traditional Samoan cooking at its best. Led by Fepulea'i Tautia, Fepulea'i Koki, Reverend Pita Uo, Falemoe and Siaki Avei and Bill Holland with some of the second and third generation youngsters who assisted and observed the traditional culinary tasks performed by young Samoan men back in the homeland. Said some of the young males, Elroy Levi and Fatu Aiono, "we were here early to do the umu...., hard work. " Fiti Leota and Glen Uo shrugged off the 'umu making' as normal. And so it was, the umu pork, palusami, pisupo and taro were beautifully cooked. There were no left overs, everyone took a bag of food home. Dessert was a mixture of custard and "Falemoe Avei's -divine- steamed pudding", pavlova, custard and apple pies with cherries, apricots, plums, grapes and kiwi fruit.


For anyone who wants to order "large or small" Falemoe Avei's traditional Samoan steamed pudding at its best - email the blogsite moderator at vinepa@vinepa.com.


As the family members began to arrive and the meets and greets session closed, each family branch had the opportunity to introduce themselves and perform an item followed by a Samoan siva. Next year there will definitely be some upskilling in the siva techniques and some sporting activities included. The two family matriarchs who were present were Tofuinu'u and Faifuaina who both spoke about the necessity for maintaining family links and remembering the central importance of God. It was a fun filled day with lots of laughter, reconnecting with some relatives like Max Reid (son of Silaumua) who spoke about missionary life in China and the need for us to remember the gift of family as "God given". Binnie (aka Sepelini daughter of Leiataua Lesa Auimatagi Siaki Seumanutafa Loligi) who was accompanied by Soloa (aka Poto's) son introduced herself and spoke about her family branch and the number of descendants in that line. And of course Peseta Leva Aati Schuster (Aati branch) who dropped in with Losa (Lima Osasa branch) to say hello.
Eliza (daughter of Tofuinu'u) performed "Mama Mia" to an enthusiastic audience who clapped and jeered along with her. Siblings Stella and Bill Holland spoke with emotion about the significance of family ties for them but a special bouquet goes to Bill's wife Jenny who took majestic control of the Samoan siva. Opelu Pili Foutanu (son of Sepelini who married One Lino) spoke of his attendance on the day as a living symbol of his acknowledgment of his mother's connection to the Seumanutafa Loligi family. A special award should be given to the Oliana (aka Oriana) Avei's descendants who gave a magnificent performance to Abba's "Ring Ring" song. The Avei dance school was unbeatable.

Not to be outdone was Vaova'i Uo's lineage who are gifted songsters, the harmony was superb and no one else dared to venture anywhere close to the Uo girls on the day.
Faifuaina's lineage took comfort in more of the abstract style of Samoan siva while Siniva's children Fepulea'i Itu and Maletina spoke about their family links and their commitment to future family projects and fundraising.
It can only get bigger and better. For those who were unable to attend, next year we hope to see more family members. Thanks to all who attended but special thanks to Fepulea'i Tautia Levi for co-ordinating the day and to the family committee who orchestrated the day right down to clearing away furniture and tidying up.

Key learning for the day - Faith in God & Love Family.

SCENES From The 2009 Auckland Seumanutafa Loligi Celebrations:












































Technorati Profile