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.