PM tells churches to speak, sing in Samoan

Apia, SAMOA — Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has called on churches and leaders of churches to help ensure the survival of our native Samoan tongue by utilizing the national language in speeches, sermons and when singing hymns. 

Tuilaepa issued the call when he spoke on Thursday before 22 culturalists and linguists who comprise the committee that has been commissioned to compile the first Samoan language reference dictionary. The committee, which includes church ministers, met the P.M. at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.).

Tuilaepa said there are church leaders who abandon the Samoan language and choose to speak in English at government events and to his surprise even in large church meetings.

One year, the Prime Minister went to Sataoa to attend and speak at an event. The minister stood up to lead the opening prayer and he prayed in English. Despite Tuilaepa’s criticizm of the reverend’s choice of language when he was given the chance to address the audience, the closing prayer was also given in English by the same minister.

“The preacher prayed in English. Nothing was in Samoan. Also when they sang the song, the songs were in English,” he said.

He whispered to someone nearby asking why the prayer and song were in English. They were instructed by a government official to use English.

“When it was my turn [to speak], I said I would not speak in English. I could see there is just one palagi sitting there and I am not going waste my time. The choir laughed,” Tuilaepa said.

“But when the faifeau stood up again, he did the closing prayer in English.”

Ministers who speak in English rather than Samoan deter the Prime Minister from inviting them to speak or pray at government functions. 

“That is why I don’t like to invite some faifeau because some of them come and they abandon our language and they speak English,” said Tuilaepa.

“Even when they have big meetings for churches suddenly they are having them in English! And when I look in the meeting, there are only Samoans in there.”

When a past president of the Methodist Church died, he said at the funeral, three elders stood up and spoke in English instead of Samoan. The Prime Minister was exasperated.