Traditional Music


Historically, Samoans had only two instruments:  the pate and the fala.  The pate is a drum made out of a hollowed out log, and a fala is a mat that is rolled up and then beat with sticks.  Even with just these two instruments, music is a plays a significant role in the culture of Samoa.  Because there was no written language for so long, stories were often sung and passed on that way through the generations.  The rhythms from the pate are the background for most performance dances.

When the Europeans came to Samoa, many instruments were introduced to the Samoans.  The two most commonly used in Samoan music are the sielo and the ukele.  A sielo is a stringed instrument made from a broomstick.  The broomstick is then attached to a big box or bucket.  It might look something like our cello, in the United States.  A ukele is similar to a guitar, only smaller and has only 4 strings.  Some people made their ukele’s out of a half of a coconut shell!



Contemporary Music

If you went to Samoa today, you would hear music that is similar to the rock groups that many people listen to in America.  The Samoan teens enjoy international pop and rock groups, however, they also enjoy bands that are from Samoa.  Two of the most popular Samoan bands were the Golden Ali’is and The Five Star, they even toured Australia and New Zealand!

In the United States, there is a rap group called The Boo-Yaa Tribe.  This rap group consists of people from Samoa.