Ie lavalava

(Begins at about 0:36 in this clip, a performance by the Teachers Training College of Samoa.) “Ie lavalava” is a Samoan sarong, something we wear daily. Among other, deeper themes, this song celebrates the beauty of Samoan culture as expressed in the design of our clothing.

Ie lavalava teuteu fa’asamoa
E sulu le siapo, e maeu, e maeu le manaia
Ia la’u penina ma la’u paaga ua malie o
Sau ia ua ou le toe fai loto
O le a seu lo’u va’a e malolo.
E lafoia le taula i fanua, ua leva le po

Ia fa’atalaia, ia fa’atalatala
Aumai se tala mai i le ualesi e
ua fo’i mai o lau malaga
Sa e ta’amilo ia Samoa

Ia amuia lava o peau o le sami
E aga i sisifo e aga i sasa’e
Ae le iloa mai lo’u tino a mate
Ma lo’u fatu e momomo le aula e
i au amio ta te ofo
A nei a malepe si a ta soa ma si a ta soa