“Moso’oi Festival of the Arts” planned for October

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Preparation is well underway to celebrate Amerika Samoa’s Moso’oi Festival of the Arts, next month, as presented by the Agency for Better Living Endeavors (A.B.L.E.), a growing group of renowned and talented artists led by A.B.L.E. Board member Ammon Fepuleai.

And the group has come together to put a plan into action for 4 events starting Oct. 01 for this month-long celebration.

The Moso’oi Festival of the Arts is made possible by financial support provided to A.B.L.E. by a National Endowment of the Arts grant through the local partner Amerika Samoa Humanities Council and the support of Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga and First Lady Ella Mauga as well as Lt. Gov. Talauega E.V. Ale, and his wife Mrs. Marion Ale.

“We are very appreciative of the assistance and support provided,” said A.B.L.E. board member Elinor Lutu-McMoore, who noted that there is plenty to be excited about as the events planned include a Moso’oi Festival of the Arts premier on Oct. 01 at Utulei Beach followed by a Mosooi Gala, a Miss Moso’oi Scholarship Pageant and ending with an all-day Mosooi Festival at Utulei Beach on Oct. 22.

What is next and what do you look for now? Moso’oi team member and renowned choreographer Eterei Salā shared, “we have started practicing some of our customized numbers including our main production, ‘O Le Nanamu o le Mosooi’.”

Mosooi Team member and lead fashion designer Isabella Ah Mu-Mageo said, “We invite all artists to participate whether you are a dancer, a fashion designer, a singer, a photographer, a carver, any and all artists are invited to join us in this celebration.”

Organizers have issued a call for models, fashion designers, hair-stylists and make-up artists to take part in the celebration. (Applications and information on Facebook pages of the Mosooi Festival of the Arts or A.B.L.E).

Elisaia Mailo, Moso’oi Festival logistics team leader and co-owner of J&E Productions points out that one of the events “is an exciting Miss Moso’oi Scholarship Pageant planned for October 15th with a focus on promoting our students and the importance of education.”

A.B.L.E is a 501(C)3 non- profit organization founded by High Chief Afoa L. Su’esu’e Lutu in 2004 to provide coordinated services with the mission of improving the lives of our residents.