Row as one! A history of the development and use of the Sāmoan fautasi

Abstract

The racing of 'fautasi' (30-metre, 45-seater, oared Samoan longboats) remains a central cultural competition that unifies contemporary American Samoa and the two Samoan states more generally. However, the 'fautasi's' emergence and transition into this role has been dismissed as a vestige of colonialism and has been understudied by scholars. This paper examines the origin, development and use of the Samoan 'fautasi' with special reference to the 'taumualua' (double-ended paddling canoes) and 'tulula' (9-to -12-metre, 20-seater, oared boats) that preceded them. We describe these traditional Samoan boats and the popular racing events that have grown around them in the context of hybrid nautical design, Western colonialism and modern commercialisation. Previous descriptions of the development of 'fautasi' in the anthropological literature are, in many cases, oversimplified. Rather than simply replacing the 'taumualua' when Samoan warfare ended, we argue that, pinpointing their origin to 1895, 'fautasi' were developed because of their superior speed, a clear benefit in numerous functions including use as war boats, cargo and passenger vessels and racing craft. Over a period of 127 years all of these functions, except the popular sport of 'fautasi' racing, fell away due to government regulations and the adoption of motorised vessels. Despite these transitions, 'fautasi' retain a strong cultural connection to Samoa's maritime past with the annual 'fautasi' races and represent the single largest cultural event in American Samoa.