Traditional club nifo oti hook polynesian cultural center. See more ideas about samoan people, polynesian art and south pacific. Antique micronesia squatting figure oceanic polynesian tribal art wood carving. The nifo oti war knife requires great athletic skill and bravery. O isi taimi, o le o loo faaaogaina oti e tausia mutia ma isi laau mai le mauaina foi le umi. This fierce traditional dance involves the twirling of the samoan knifes with the added danger of fire. The book elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditio. The ailao, a fierce traditional dance that involves the twirling of the nifo oti war knife, was a prewar ritual in samoa used to psyche up warriors. O nisi faifaatoaga faaaoga oti e aai ai laau o le te le manao faifaatoaga, valaauina vao.
The weapons primary advantage was the particularity of the design. Fire was added to the knife in 1946 by a samoan knife dancer named freddie letuli, later to become paramount chief letuli olo misilagi. The explanation of the weapon nifooti the deadly tooth or cutting tooth is defined. He worked on it for the next 20 years, and recently selfpublished his own 185page, heavily illustrated book, the fire knife dance. Beautiful samoan war club toothed nifo oti samoa 36 nr. Part photo album, part memoir, the book recalls what seems to be a sweeter, simpler time and a man who, by all accounts, had an exceptionally loving and benevolent nature especially surprising considering the warriorlike way that he had with the wickedlooking nifo oti traditional samoan hooked killing knife. Punk costume, cloud atlas, library of congress, may 1, historical photos, division, old photos, islands, washington. However, nifo is not acceptable for financial reporting since it calls for a future cost. To add fire, both ends are wrapped with kevlar or a cotton towel tied with wire, then soaked in camp kerosene white gas, which burns cleanly and vaporizes quickly. See more ideas about history, historical photos and old photos. The designs carved into the club are of traditional samoan style. This traditional dance has been passed from generation to generation. The samoan kukri, le nifo oti, is, perhaps, the most lethal hand to hand combat weapon ever devised within the pacific bellicose cultures the weapon is unique in design and is particular to the samoan warrior culture.
The twirling of the burning nifo oti war knife is a skill that has been refined from generation to generation. The ailao and nifo oti contemporary taualuga performances sometimes commence with choreographies involving a hooked bladed implement called the nifo oti. The nifooti is a melee weapon that was added to call of duty. It is one of several forms of nifooti that have been made in samoa from at least the early. Piece may be hung on wall or stand on flat surface. History get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. They were used before warriors went to battle as a way to pump them up for war. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifo oti hardcover december 11, 2015. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifo oti paperback. Born in a small village in american samoa, letuli created the fire knife dance that spawned a whole generation of entertainers and carried the color and excitement of polynesia around the world from pago pago to hollywood to las vegas cirque du soleil. These weapons seem unique to samoa, their origin was the whalers blubber tool copied or adapted.
Letuli went on to write a book about the idea and how fire knife twirling came. Free shipping due to covid19, orders may be delayed. Rockahula dancers our amazing dancers bring hula to life in our 75minute show. Made from the teeth of the sperm whale, they were split and ground down into curved and pointed pendants. Likes to think of himself as better than everyone else, but often ends up being completely humiliated as a result of his own stupidity. The samoan kukri, le nifo oti, is, perhaps, the most lethal hand to hand combat weapon ever devised within the pacific bellicose cultures. The siva afi was originally performed with the nifo oti samoan machete which is very dangerous as the steel of the nifo oti heats up and burns. Polynesian historians and regarded authorities on samoan cultural history state that the training of toa warriors in the art of hand to hand combat with the nifo oti, the serrated edge samoan war club came into prominence between 900 1200 ad the favorite weapon of the tui manua empire of the time the king maui tagote of the eastern samoan island groups. Afio mai, haere mai and welcome to our lagi online store.
The explanation of the weapon nifo oti the deadly tooth or cutting tooth is defined. It is now made of silverplated steel with a wooden handle. The first man to bring fire into the dance was letuli olo misilagi. The weapon is unique in design and is particular to the samoan warrior culture.
The functionality of the weapon is ingenius and it is unique to samoan military history. The modern fire knife dance has its roots in the ancient samoan exhibition called ailao the flashy demonstration of a samoan warriors battle prowess through artful twirling, throwing and. An example of such a steel nifo oti is also on display in the museum. Nifo is listed in the worlds largest and most authoritative dictionary database of abbreviations and acronyms. Nifo is sometimes used as an expression of replacement cost. Nifo oti tooth club, which has on one side a parallel fang. Apr 26, 2019 the beauty of a samoan taualuga is the taupous ability to freestyle her movements at any given moment she is honored with the task of performing one. The modern fire knife dance has its roots in the ancient samoan exhibition called ailao the flashy demonstration of a samoan warriors battle prowess through artful twirling, throwing and catching, and dancing with a war club. The fire knife dance the story behind the flames taalolo to.
Performed by lafo brown and chief tui, fire knife dancing brings rockahula to a burning crescendo. Purchased by the museum from james thomas hooper in 1928. Nifo is a cost flow assumption, just as fifo and lifo are cost flow assumptions. We preserve and portray the cultures, arts and crafts of polynesia. The nifo oti was formerly made of wood, carved and decorated. Nicknamed freddie after his adulation for fred astaire, young uluao letuli misilagi learned to dance with the traditional samoan nifo oti, or death knives. The ailao could be performed with any warclub and some colonial accounts confirm.
Resembling a baton, the fireknife itself, called nifo oti, replicates an ancient samoan weapon that features a 14inch blade with a hook on the end. The book elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditional to creative or a modern. We preserve the cultures, arts and crafts of polynesia. Flaming sword of samoa is a fascinating chronicle of the life of showman and paramount chief freddie letuli. The explanation of the weapon nifoot i the deadly tooth or cutting tooth is defined. Anciently, the ula lei ula nifo were a symbol of status and wealth. Firstly, the tunu ma fata twins, whom would later on become the first malietoa royal line of samoa, and, secondly, the weapon they had invented, le nifo oti. The boo k expresses the history of the samoan fire knif e dance samoan ailao, from the time it was a victory ceremony of war to its modern day form. The whaletooth necklace is the most valued of samoan necklaces and is traditionally worn only by chiefs and their offspring. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifooti by pulefano f. It consists of a carved piece of wood, round at the handle, but flattened towards the top. Pcc fireknife competition blog the polynesian cultural. It was originally composed of a machete wrapped in towels on. Ladies and gentlemen, i present to you chief tevita fonua with the nifo oti.
The history of pccs special event and samoan knife dancing. This is a samoan nifo oti of the late 19th century. Custom now demands in the most formal occasions that the ornately decorated manaia or prince and taupo or princess, each. He explained that the nifo oti was eventually combined with another samoan weapon, the lave or hook, which was used to snare various body parts of an enemy. This is an unique hand to hand combat weapon of samoan warrior culture. May 06, 2016 pules book in 1994 pules late wife, susan, encouraged him to keep a record of all that i was doing, for my kids. In his recently published book, flaming sword of samoa. In more modern times after village, tribal and interisland warfare faded into history, the nifo oti has become an important element in the samoan taalolo or giftgiving procession that honors special visitors. The samoan fire knife or nifo oti dance is a spectacular way to add sizzle to your hawaiian luau. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifooti, the fire knife dance, donna manz, chief pulefanolefolasa f. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifo oti by pulefano f. Pacific carvings, samoan carvings, sculptures, master carver. The characteristic metal hook of these tools was readily incorporated into the samoan wooden nifo oti, which bears the unique hooked element whether carved from wood or forged from steel.
World cultures countries of the world samoan people samoan men peter and the starcatcher west papua south pacific people around the world historical photos. Nifo oti, both those with real billhook blades and the wooden facsimiles, were certainly employed as warclubs but would have primarily been used for. Knife dancing has a history which goes back hundreds of years. A carved wood food dish, boiken people, png, 1930s, fine condition.
Pick of the week on july 21, 2012 in the annual tautai trust tertiary students exhibition at aucklands st paul st gallery, i spied a piece that made my long for samoa and inspired me to make art again. The orators staff is like a long walkingcane made of hardwood, six to seven feet in length. Dec 10, 2011 the samoan kukri, le nifo oti, is, perhaps, the most lethal hand to hand combat weapon ever devised within the pacific bellicose cultures. The haft is made from a single piece of wood, which has been split at the top to hold the tang of the blade, and has been bound at 20 points along its length with coconut fibre. The polynesian cultural center is a unique treasure created to support education by sharing with the world the cultures, diversity and spirit of the nations of polynesia. Nifooti cane knife collections online museum of new zealand. The samoan fire knife dance is more than a popular spectacle that adds sizzle to a hawaiian luau. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the plot summary submission guide synopsis. Nifo oti vii o olo loa greyson featuring tiana liufau. Black ops 4 with the operation spectre rising update.
A method of valuation where the cost of a particular item is based upon the cost to replace the item rather than on its original cost. It is a wooden samoan war club with metal teeth on one side with the other being a hook club, the handle is wrapped in twine. The fire knife is a traditional samoan cultural implement that is used in ceremonial dances. The story of the samoan fire knife dance 2004, watermark publishing, letuli revealed how he got the idea to add fire to his knife dance. Parade antiques c1870 oceania samoan nifooti billhook war club a rare example of an original victorian period samoan nifooti war club from oceania. Many samoan nifo oti actually utilised the original metal billhook blade, modifying it by hafting it onto a local handle. This is a nifooti, a carved wooden weapon from samoa. They are entirely unique to samoa and are considered the national weapon. Polynesian historians and regarded authorities on samoan cultural history state that the training of toa warriors in the art of hand to hand combat with the nifo oti, the serrated edge samoan war club came into prominence between 900 1200 ad the favorite weapon of the tui manua empire of the time the king maui tagote of the eastern samoan.
Samoa dance ethnic fest 2018 samoa dance ethnic fest 2018 nifo oti loa greyson duration. It looks like we dont have any plot summaries for this title yet. In 1946 he added fire to his knives after watching a baton twirler and an east indian fireeater practice their routines at a shriners convention in san francisco. Antique samoan nifo oti weapon samoan people, native. The boo k elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditio. The story behind the flames, taalolo to nifo oti, by chief pulefanolefolasa f. It originates from its mythcal story of a warrior prince receiving the weapon from a mythical diety. Collected by henry archibald tufnell or william macgregor. All images from book click here to view book online to see this illustration in. The history of the origins of the weapon has its mythical origins like a shaka zulu mini series whereby a warrior prince forges a weapon from some. Pules book in 1994 pules late wife, susan, encouraged him to keep a record of all that i was doing, for my kids. It originates from its mythcal story of a warrior prince receiving the weapon from a. The book expresses the history of the samoan fire knife dance samoan ailao, from the time it was a victory ceremony of war to its modern day form.
The fire knife dance bookventure publishing bookstore. Polynesian historians and regarded authorities on samoan cultural history state that the training of toa warriors in the art of hand to hand combat with the nifo oti. In more modern times after village, tribal and interisland warfare faded into history, the nifo oti has become an important element in the samoan taalolo or giftgiving procession that. See more ideas about samoan people, samoan tattoo and samoan women. The history of the origins of the weapon has its mythical origins like a shaka zulu mini series whereby a. The nifooti club is marked by a row of teeth on one side which are of the bevelled type seen in the bilateraltoothed clubs. Parade antiques c1880 oceania samoan nifooti billhook war club a rare example of an original victorian period samoan nifooti war club from oceania. Aug 17, 2017 boxcar willie does imitations of famous country music singers duration. Nifo oti vii o olo lyrics aue, aue le nifo oti, faatafa ese tavili vili, i luga ma lalo tasi lua tolu, sisifo ma sasae velo lau tao, ua alu atu le afi, aue aue aue malo le saili malo. Its a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation, with each adding a new layer of style, boldness, and skill. These dances involve twirling a nifo oti, the traditional name for a war knife. Unlike the overwhelming majority of polynesian clubs new zealand excepted.