As all Nanumeans know, January 8th marks the annual festival devoted to Tefolaha, founder of Nanumean society. The celebration embodies Nanumean identity, and also commemorates the decision Nanumeans made in 1922 to be a Christian community. The “Day of Tefolaha”, Po o Tefolaha, will be celebrated widely on the evening of Friday, 9th January, starting with a church service, and followed by an exuberant all-night festive faatele dance. A special feature during the faatele are “solo” processions up to a table to donate coins and other cash toward the maintenance of the church premises. The faatele usually goes on until dawn, although many small children will be asleep on mats around the hall well before that.
Fanau Nanumea – Manuia Po Lahi, te Tauhaga fou, te Fulihaga Fou, mo te Po tenei o Tefolaha, tagata muamua o Nanumea!
Kiti mo Ane, Nonu, Kilea, mo Tavita ikonei i Oregon
