Title: Ole Manuõ o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave: The Heralding of Our Oral History and Relishing of Our Story Narratives
Author: Amerika Samoa Humanities Council
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1573062992
Pages: 234
Genre: History/Humanities/Oceania
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina

Read Book Review

Sometimes, to know ourselves, we have to first understand where we came from. Whether it is the nation you live in, the family you grew up in or the heritage you inherited, the past has a way of impacting the future. That’s why the study of history is so important, and why the Amerika Samoa Humanities Council and the book it wrote Ole Manuõ o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave, is such an engaging read.

The book is a textbook, used in high schools to teach students the full history of the American Samoa people. Yet it is so much more than that. It’s the study of a way of life. In an era when social media and the Internet hold so much sway and power, the lost art of verbal and social communication is brought to life in this amazing book. It showcases how oral and written stories helped bring the history of an entire people to life, and the importance of learning from the past and honoring those who came before you.

The writers of this book have done an amazing job bringing facts, myths and legends to life perfectly in this textbook, exploring the history of several villages of the Samoa people and their individual histories. This passage shares the heart of the book best. “The Samoan way of life (fa’asamoa) defines the Samoan culture. This culture has been transferred from generation to generation through oral history and was displayed with much determination. Challenging influences and interactions from outside cultures did not deter the hearts of the Samoan people from the fundamental ideas of the fa’asamoa. Fa’asamoa remains to be a living culture, and is the basis for the strong bonding among families and villages.” This highlights the importance family and culture has on the Samoan people, and how we could learn from that to improve the relationships we have with our own families and the world at large.

History fans and those interested in different cultures will love this textbook. As a history fan myself, the way the book goes into each village’s history and the legends that contributed to their way of life fascinated me immensely. I especially enjoyed hearing the legends handed down through generations of villages, with High Chieftain’s and Orators telling stories of how their villages were founded, including some fascinating stories involving some elements that could be considered “supernatural” or “magical” by the rest of the world, but which is considered natural and historical to the people of these villages.

Overall I loved this book. It was a fantastic look into the life and culture of the American Samoa people. The inclusion of historical and modern day photos that highlighted the way of life and change throughout history made the textbook’s subject matter flow smoothly. The book is an important read for anyone who loves history or values the importance of learning from the past and keeping our planet’s history alive. If you haven’t yet you should definitely grab your copies of Ole Manuõ o Tala Tu’u Ma Fisaga o Tala Ave today.