📍 Samoa 🇼🇸
May was Pacific Islander Heritage Month and this book, Afakasi Woman, was my pick for it. In fact, it’s my first time reading literature from Oceania and Pacific Islands. There are 13 (? 12) Pacific Islands countries and Samoa is one of them. Samoa is a picturesque island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean, known for its vibrant culture, lush landscapes, and welcoming people. It consists of two main islands, Upolu and Savai’i, along with several smaller islands. The capital city, Apia, is situated on Upolu, which is also the most populous island. Samoa has a rich history that dates back over 3,000 years. Samoan culture, known as Fa’a Samoa, emphasizes community, family, and respect for tradition.
Afakasi is the Samoan transliteration for half-caste meaning half Samoan and half of any other ethnicity, mostly European. Palagi in Samoan language usually refers to white foreigners of European or American descent. This book is a collection of short stories from the point of view of an Afakasi woman. Through these stories, the author effortlessly offers us a glimpse of the strong Samoan culture, their language, their food and even their idiosyncrasies and morally ambiguous traits. The stories, some of which are witty and humorous, while a few are dark and brooding, talk about contemporary issues plaguing the Samoan society at large. The story, Afakasi woman, spoke about the silent discrimination that palagi women face in Samoa despite the obsession of Samoans with white skin. The story, Don’t tell, spoke about child sexual abuse by the stepfather and how the family still rallied around the accused while the victim faced social ostracism. Another story, Red Hibiscus – A Fairytale, also spoke about child sexual abuse at the hands of the pastor and how the grandmother avenges the crime. Each of the story is poignant and contemplative highlighting the perils of abuse, neglect, patriarchy and chauvinism.
The author, Lani Wendt Young, is a Samoan/ Maori woman who specialises in YA fantasy, modern romance and literary fiction; and has written 15 books till date. This book, Afakasi Woman, has won a Storylines Notable Book Award and was also short listed in the NZ Book Awards for Young Adults.
In our country too, we dismiss victims of sexual abuse; especially children, who are discouraged and punitively dealt with, if at all they come forth with their trauma. Victims often are subjugated to invasive scrutiny, their traumas invalidated and gaslighted. On the contrary, the perpetrators of the crime always get the benefit of doubt and the entire family and sometimes the country and the government continue to protect them. Well, suddenly Samoa and India feel so similar, no?
~ JUST A GAY BOY. 🙂
the shiny diaries 