Motherland festival is calling Sāmoans home

Apia will be hosting Motherland Sāmoa which Sāmoans are tipping to be the most exciting concert in its history.

Motherland Sāmoa is a cultural music festival that showcases and celebrates heritage and it has garnered attraction from Sāmoan diaspora to return home.

Singer-songwriter Tree Vaifale is among the performers and says her reason for being there is to show how Sāmoan culture can be integrated into one's career.

“Ua leai se aganu’u, leai se fa’amoemoe. Without your culture, there is no hope and we pretty much have nothing to be mitamita (proud) in.

“That’s the push and why we are all here together today. We are here to change and push that narrative.”

The concert will feature some of Sāmoa’s most recognised international and local artists including Lisi, Savage, J Boog, Bina Butta, Wayno, HP Boyz and Lani Alo.

Motherland Sāmoa organisers, PacifiCast say the focus of the concert is reconnection.

“We’re wanting to provide Sāmoa with a festival of international standard, it was intentional to select artists from across the globe, to firstly provide the best line up and to also provide the opportunity for the artists to reconnect with Sāmoa.”

Tourism in Sāmoa has greatly suffered since the Covid-19 pandemic, so the concert is also an attempt to boost the economy and the Sāmoan tourism industry.

Powerhouse Lani Alo says it's an honour to share the stage with Pacific icons.

"I'm genuinely really excited to be in the lineup with some legends in the game. Everyone on that list is amazing but to be on the same card as Fiji and J Boog, that'll be the highlight for me."

"It's always awesome going back home to jam for my family and my people. Yeah, that's exciting."

Hall of Famer David Tua stole the show at the press conference, grabbing the mic even though no questions were directed to him.

He turned to Fiji to ask, “There’s a bit of Sāmoan in you right, can you express that to the people please?”

Fiji responded that he is Fijian made but he is actually Sāmoan raised.

The concert will be free for general admission, with organisers announcing that the food stalls will only accept cash payments.

Motherland will be held at rugby’s Apia Park this weekend.