They were used before warriors went to battle as a way to pump them up for war. Parade antiques c1870 oceania samoan nifooti billhook war club a rare example of an original victorian period samoan nifooti war club from oceania. Traditional club nifo oti hook polynesian cultural center. The explanation of the weapon nifoot i the deadly tooth or cutting tooth is defined. These dances involve twirling a nifo oti, the traditional name for a war knife. Nifo is listed in the worlds largest and most authoritative dictionary database of abbreviations and acronyms.
However, nifo is not acceptable for financial reporting since it calls for a future cost. 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. The explanation of the weapon nifo oti the deadly tooth or cutting tooth is defined. Nifo is sometimes used as an expression of replacement cost. The fire knife dance bookventure publishing bookstore. The weapon is unique in design and is particular to the samoan warrior culture. 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. Purchased by the museum from james thomas hooper in 1928. Nifooti cane knife collections online museum of new zealand.
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. Aug 17, 2017 boxcar willie does imitations of famous country music singers duration. The weapons primary advantage was the particularity of the design. Likes to think of himself as better than everyone else, but often ends up being completely humiliated as a result of his own stupidity. Punk costume, cloud atlas, library of congress, may 1, historical photos, division, old photos, islands, washington.
It looks like we dont have any plot summaries for this title yet. This is an unique hand to hand combat weapon of samoan warrior culture. The twirling of the burning nifo oti war knife is a skill that has been refined from generation to generation. They are entirely unique to samoa and are considered the national weapon. The book elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditio. He worked on it for the next 20 years, and recently selfpublished his own 185page, heavily illustrated book, the fire knife dance.
The story behind the flames taalolo to nifo oti hardcover december 11, 2015. The nifo oti was formerly made of wood, carved and decorated. Performed by lafo brown and chief tui, fire knife dancing brings rockahula to a burning crescendo. O isi taimi, o le o loo faaaogaina oti e tausia mutia ma isi laau mai le mauaina foi le umi.
The story behind the flames taalolo to nifooti by pulefano f. 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. Letuli went on to write a book about the idea and how fire knife twirling came. 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 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. Antique samoan nifo oti weapon samoan people, native. 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. 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. Free shipping due to covid19, orders may be delayed. The orators staff is like a long walkingcane made of hardwood, six to seven feet in length. The story behind the flames, taalolo to nifo oti, by chief pulefanolefolasa f. 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.
The story behind the flames taalolo to nifooti, the fire knife dance, donna manz, chief pulefanolefolasa f. Samoa origin of name, the people and the navigators. 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. Beautiful samoan war club toothed nifo oti samoa 36 nr. 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. New york, forest and stream publishing company contributing library. World cultures countries of the world samoan people samoan men peter and the starcatcher west papua south pacific people around the world historical photos.
Collected by henry archibald tufnell or william macgregor. Piece may be hung on wall or stand on flat surface. The functionality of the weapon is ingenius and it is unique to samoan military history. This is a samoan nifo oti of the late 19th century. In his recently published book, flaming sword of samoa. The fire knife is a traditional samoan cultural implement that is used in ceremonial dances. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Pacific carvings, samoan carvings, sculptures, master carver. Unlike the overwhelming majority of polynesian clubs new zealand excepted. See more ideas about samoan people, polynesian art and south pacific.
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. The boo k elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditio. Samoa dance ethnic fest 2018 samoa dance ethnic fest 2018 nifo oti loa greyson duration. The book elaborates the various stages of the dance from traditional to creative or a modern. The samoan fire knife dance is more than a popular spectacle that adds sizzle to a hawaiian luau. Knife dancing has a history which goes back hundreds of years. The ailao could be performed with any warclub and some colonial accounts confirm.
It originates from its mythcal story of a warrior prince receiving the weapon from a. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the plot summary submission guide synopsis. The history of pccs special event and samoan knife dancing. 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. Parade antiques c1880 oceania samoan nifooti billhook war club a rare example of an original victorian period samoan nifooti war club from oceania. 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. 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. Many samoan nifo oti actually utilised the original metal billhook blade, modifying it by hafting it onto a local handle. 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. 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. It is now made of silverplated steel with a wooden handle. This fierce traditional dance involves the twirling of the samoan knifes with the added danger of fire. We preserve the cultures, arts and crafts of polynesia. It originates from its mythcal story of a warrior prince receiving the weapon from a mythical diety.
Anciently, the ula lei ula nifo were a symbol of status and wealth. Nifo oti, both those with real billhook blades and the wooden facsimiles, were certainly employed as warclubs but would have primarily been used for. Pules book in 1994 pules late wife, susan, encouraged him to keep a record of all that i was doing, for my kids. Fire was added to the knife in 1946 by a samoan knife dancer named freddie letuli, later to become paramount chief letuli olo misilagi. 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. Nifo is a cost flow assumption, just as fifo and lifo are cost flow assumptions. While taupou and manaia did indeed dance and twirl war clubs anava when leading processions or concluding performances this segment should not be misconstrued as a component of the. Nicknamed freddie after his adulation for fred astaire, young uluao letuli misilagi learned to dance with the traditional samoan nifo oti, or death knives. Flaming sword of samoa is a fascinating chronicle of the life of showman and paramount chief freddie letuli. Black ops 4 with the operation spectre rising update. The ailao and nifo oti contemporary taualuga performances sometimes commence with choreographies involving a hooked bladed implement called the nifo oti. 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.
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. The history of the origins of the weapon has its mythical origins like a shaka zulu mini series whereby a. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifo oti by pulefano f. 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. Nifo oti vii o olo loa greyson featuring tiana liufau. Rockahula dancers our amazing dancers bring hula to life in our 75minute show.
History get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music. 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. It consists of a carved piece of wood, round at the handle, but flattened towards the top. See more ideas about history, historical photos and old photos. The samoan fire knife or nifo oti dance is a spectacular way to add sizzle to your hawaiian luau.
A carved wood food dish, boiken people, png, 1930s, fine condition. 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. This is a nifooti, a carved wooden weapon from samoa. Pcc fireknife competition blog the polynesian cultural. The fire knife dance the story behind the flames taalolo to. 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 whaletooth necklace is the most valued of samoan necklaces and is traditionally worn only by chiefs and their offspring. We preserve and portray the cultures, arts and crafts of polynesia. 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. Nifo oti tooth club, which has on one side a parallel fang. Its a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation, with each adding a new layer of style, boldness, and skill. The nifo oti war knife requires great athletic skill and bravery. Antique micronesia squatting figure oceanic polynesian tribal art wood carving. All images from book click here to view book online to see this illustration in.
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. 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. The story behind the flames taalolo to nifo oti paperback. The nifooti club is marked by a row of teeth on one side which are of the bevelled type seen in the bilateraltoothed clubs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time i comment. The explanation of the weapon nifooti the deadly tooth or cutting tooth is defined. Afio mai, haere mai and welcome to our lagi online store. It is one of several forms of nifooti that have been made in samoa from at least the early. An example of such a steel nifo oti is also on display in the museum. See more ideas about samoan people, samoan tattoo and samoan women.
Custom now demands in the most formal occasions that the ornately decorated manaia or prince and taupo or princess, each. The designs carved into the club are of traditional samoan style. 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. The nifooti is a melee weapon that was added to call of duty. 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. The first man to bring fire into the dance was letuli olo misilagi. Ladies and gentlemen, i present to you chief tevita fonua with the nifo oti. 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. It was originally composed of a machete wrapped in towels on. 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. O nisi faifaatoaga faaaoga oti e aai ai laau o le te le manao faifaatoaga, valaauina vao. Made from the teeth of the sperm whale, they were split and ground down into curved and pointed pendants.
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