Hard times in Apia? Urban landlessness and the church in Samoa

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a study about the relationships between social change and settlement change in Samoa, where a form of landlessness is emerging in low income areas of the main town, Apia. It examines changing reciprocal kinship arrangements with respect to customary rural village plantation land and changes in both individual and household relationships with the church. Although these relationships are typically closely bound in Pacific island societies, recent field-based research has revealed the expansion of landless urban settlements with households that are alienated from rural village-based kin and, by extension, customary land.

Exploring Conceptualisations of Disability: A Talanoa approach to Understanding Cultural Frameworks of Disability in Samoa

“…Policy that is not based upon Samoan cultural values has the capacity to erode the fundamental concepts of the fa'aSāmoa. This is already being reported through the impact of changing family structures due to increased economic engagement (Thornton et al, 2010;Thornton et al, 2013). This changing space has implications for people with disability.…”

The experiences of second generation Samoans in Australia

“…According to participants, their church communities enable Samoan cultural traditions to dominate congregational practices, with traditions referred to as fa'alavelave placing financial strain on families. This may explain, in part, the decrease of membership within traditional Samoan churches and increased participation in more contemporary churches (Thornton, Kerslake, & Binns, 2013;Tunufa'i, 2005). In addition, families' commitments to their churches are often prioritised over educational activities.…”

“…This means that churches in resettlement areas fulfil both spiritual and cultural needs of members, acting as "custodians of Pacific culture and nuance" (Periera, 2004, p29). Churches help to maintain the fa'a Samoa, a phenomenon which encompasses the cultural beliefs and values including love, respect, family and reciprocity which embody the essence of being Samoan (Levine, 2013;Thornton, Binns, & Kerslake, 2013).…”

The role of religion in local perceptions of disasters: the case of post-tsunami religious and social change in Samoa

“…This is also true for the financial organization of new and mainline churches. Whereas the mainline churches rely mostly on donations from their members to cover salaries and household expenses for pastors, maintenance and construction of church buildings as well as costs of operating the central administration of the church in Samoa, the new churches generally rely less on financial contributions from members and more on financial support from overseas branches and main organization of their churches (Thornton, Binns, & Kerslake, 2013).…”

“…In recent decades, an increased monetarization of exchanges and giftgiving has taken place, to a large degree replacing cultural wealth, such as food or weaved fine mats, with cash donations (Tuimaleali'ifano, 2006). In the mainline churches, the size of cash donations from members has also increased (Macpherson & Macpherson, 2009;Thornton et al, 2010Thornton et al, , 2013. Donations generally take place during Sunday services and in the mainline churches, donations are for the most part publicly announced, which can add a competitive element and create a pressure to donate more.…”