Blog — lavalava

If you are a Siva Afi (fire knife dance) performer you are going to want to know how to tie a lavalava. A lavalava is known as a pareo or sarong in other places.  In Samoa it is called a lavalava, ie lavalava or just an ie.  It is the material that is used as clothing and wrapped around the waist or body. Siva Afi performers use them in their performances as it was traditionally used by our warriors when they went to war. For those of you who don't know siva afi is an adaptation of the ailao, a...

We were lucky to see a private screening of Three Wise Cousins in Melbourne.  A theatre of 300 filled to the brim of Samoans ready to laugh and be entertained.  It wasn’t like any other movie screening I had been to, not even in Samoa.  As my son and I sat down we were offered a packet of popcorn from a complete stranger as they had ordered more than they could eat, thank you again kind man.  Then before the movie started as a group we all did the mili and pati (there is probably an actual term for this,...

A lavalava is a piece of cloth used as clothing.  It is also known around the world as a sarong and pareau.  It is worn by both men and women at any time of the day.  It can be worn while taking an outside shower, going for a swim in the ocean, as pyjamas and even as an evening gown to a fancy party. While the most common use of a lavalava is as a piece of clothing there are other ways that you can use your lavalava.  Here are thee ways to use a lavalava. 1. Lavalava Throw Blanket Most lavalavas...