Apia, Samoa – Thursday 11th July 2024
The National University of Samoa (NUS) and the German Übersee-Museum Bremen celebrated the official handover and signing ceremony of a historical prow of a taumualua, an iconic war canoe artifact. This epic moment represents a significant breakthrough in the quest to uncover the true provenance of this valuable relic, which is set to shed new light on the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific and the fascinating history of Samoa, as both institutions embark on a collaborative journey to uncover and preserve the stories and traditions of the Pacific people.
The prow, taken from Samoa in 1888 during the Samoan Civil War, has been returned to its homeland after 134 years. The handover ceremony also marked the culmination of a four-year cooperation project between the Übersee-Museum Bremen and NUS, which aimed to research the ethnographic history of the object and its significance to Samoan culture.
The event was attended by prominent guests, including the German Minister of State, Her Excellency Ms. Katja Keul, Her Excellency Ms. Si’alei Van Toor, New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, His Excellency Mr. Fei Mingxing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Independent State of Samoa, Dr. Wiebke Arhndt, Director of Übersee-Museum Bremen, as well as the Pro-Chancellor of NUS, Professor Letuimanu’asina Emma Kruse-Vaai.
German Minister of State, H.E Ms. Katja Keul, highlighted the significance of cultural heritage in understanding where we come from and where we are going. “Cultural artefacts are an essential part of the identity of every people. No one should be deprived of this aspect of their identity. The return of cultural heritage is part of our commitment to coming to terms with Germany’s colonial past – a process much overdue in German society. Hence, we are grateful for your partnership and friendship and hope that the findings of this project will open up even new chapters of cooperation.”
On behalf of the Government of Samoa and the Honourable Minister of Education, Afioga Honourable Seuula Ioane, Professor Tuifuisa’a Patila Amosa, Vice-Chancellor and President of the National University of Samoa, thanked the German Minister and the Übersee-Museum Bremen for their collaboration and consideration in returning the prow to Samoa to be housed at the National University of Samoa. “This material culture holds information about a period of Samoan history that is often preserved in our oral stories, textbooks, and museums. As a result, the return of the prow is not only a connection to Samoa’s past but will also allow students, community members, tourists, and Samoan matai to have deeper conversations on Samoan history, both in the classroom and the community.”
The ceremony also marked a new chapter in Samoan-German friendship, with Minister Keul highlighting the importance of our joint fight against climate change and preserving cultural heritage. “Climate change is a threat to our cultural heritage. But we value even more what has been handed down to us from the past. Therefore, we look for ways to preserve our tangible and intangible cultural assets for future generations.”
The joint exhibition on the prow’s history will be held at NUS later this year, followed by an exhibition at the Übersee-Museum Bremen in March 2025.
For more information please contact: Leilani Smith, Marketing and Communications Officer, NUS, Samoa | Tel. +685: 20072 ext. 283, E: [email protected] | www.nus.edu.ws
