Siupapa Villagers Named Ban Ki-Moon As Tupua – A Prince

The villagers of Siupapa, sub-village of Saleapaga, the Prime Minister of Samoa's Village, are waiting in anticipation. A very rare ceremony is happening.

During the Small Islands Conference in Samoa, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is visited Siupapa - the village that has decided to name him not only a new "Matai", chief - but also a Tupua - a prince.

"Especially the Prime Minister and all the people of my village, we do agree for that Matei title for the Secretary of all over the world Ban Ki-moon, he now is having a Matai title of Tupua." Chief of the village Fau Salevao Tulafali said.

The traditional initiation ritual of the village includes the kava ceremony, prepared by an unmarried daughter of a chief. Following the tradition, Tupua Ban Ki-moon is pouring some of the kava on the ground to ask for blessings for the village, which has been hit hard by disaster in the past.

UN Secretary-General wished to the people of Samoa more prosperity and more happiness at the ceremony.

Nothing much is left of the old village of Siupapa - the tsunami has washed it away, what once was a school is an empty shell. Old Siupapa could be a symbol for the vulnerability of small islands to climate change and other disasters, like tsunamis.

Now Siupapa moved up the hill, but rebuilding takes time and needs resources.

Tupua Ban Ki-moon, with the Prime Minister of Samoa, not only brought a donation to Siupapa - he also pledged to show strong solidarity with Small Island States facing disasters of Climate Change, rising sea tides and tsunamis on a regular basis.

SHOTLIST:
31 AUGUST 2014, SIUPAPA, SUB-VILLAGE OF SALEAPAGA, SAMOA

Various shots, villagers in Siupapa waiting for their guests
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arriving
Men sitting on ground
Ban Ki-moon in traditional Samoan outfit
Daughter of highest chief of village, who prepares kava ritual
Various shots, preparing kava ritual
Various shots, Ban Ki-moon pouring some kava on ground as respect for village
Various shots, high waves on the shore, seen from ruins of the tsunami destroyed village of Siupapa
Various shots, kids playing in new village, relocated up the hill
Chiefs of the village counting Samoan Tala
Ban Ki-moon with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi

SOUNDBITE, Fau Salevao Tulafali, Speaking Chief of the village
"Especially the Prime Minister and all the people of my village, we do agree for that Matei title for the Secretary of all over the world Ban Ki-moon, he now is having a Matai title of Tupua."

SOUNDBITE Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, "Prince Tupua Ban Ki-moon of Siupapa Saleapaga."
"And to the people of Samoa - More prosperity, more happiness. Manuia !" (Samoan for "Blessing on the village")

SOUNDBITE, Fau Salevao Tulafali, Speaking Chief of the village
"People of my own village, almost 50 of them were killed by the tsunami, so that time was very hard for every one of us, so that is the first disaster happening in Samoa, with the tsunami in 2009."

SOUNDBITE, Fau Salevao Tulafali, Speaking Chief of the village
"And there are some problems happening in my village, so the most one is the water for the health of the people, now we don't have particularly any healthy water in my village."

DURATION: 02:34