A long lasting legacy – Samoa and Germany

Enlarge image (© Volker Matten) On Sunday, 13 November 2011, two exhibitions opened at the Pataka Museum exploring the historical impact and lasting legacy of Germany´s colonial past in Samoa at the beginning of the 20th century. Not least due to the perfect weather conditions, over 200 guests could be allured to attend the official opening ceremonies at the Pataka Museum in Porirua led by museum curator Helen Kedgley. Ambassador Thomas H. Meister, who in his opening address emphasized the strong bonds between the two nations, was joined by Hon. Prof. Winnie Laban, former Labour MP and Labour Spokesperson of the Pacific Islands and HE James Blakelock, High Commissioner of Samoa in New Zealand.

Enlarge image (© Volker Matten) Following a musical contribution by the Elios String Quartet, the guests were able to discover what the exhibitions held in store for them. Under the title “Samoa and Germany: Old Ties and New Relationships”, the project originally conceived by well-known German Prof. Hermann Hiery, historian at the University of Bayreuth, represented the world's first exhibition depicting the heritage of the German colonization of Samoa between 1900-1914. Ms. Kedgley described the exhibition as “an amazing collection of old photos and historical information that includes everything from education to ecology of the time, to Samoan chiefs and German pioneers – many of whom have descendants among us”. This exhibition was initiated and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin.

The second exhibition, created by famous New Zealand/Samoan artist Michel Tuffery and opened by HE James Blakelock, also explores German-Samoan relations. Enlarge image (© Volker Matten) It comprises the first release of Tuffery’s expanded exhibition body of works which includes a new series of paintings, sculptural artworks and internal gallery projection installation, incorporating a dance performance by Whitireia Polytechnic Performing Arts School. The exhibition also looks into the question what future perspectives Samoa would have had, had it remained a German colony.

Samoa was a German protectorate from 1900 to 1914, consisting of the islands of Upolu, Savai'i, Apolima and Manono, now wholly within the independent state of Samoa. It was the last German colonial acquisition in the Pacific basin, aside from the Kiautschou concession in China, which was administered separately. The relationship between both countries is close and friendly. They co-operate on numerous projects in the areas of art and culture, development aid and trade with the latest example being a joint project on the digitization of the National Archive in Apia.

The exhibitions will be on show until 19 February 2012.