Germany Repatriates Taumualua Prow to Samoa

APIA, SAMOA—The Samoa Observer reports that Germany repatriated the prow of a taumualua, or war canoe, to Samoa, in a ceremony held at the National University of Samoa (NUS), where it will be displayed. NUS Vice-Chancellor Tuifuisa’a Patila Malua Amosa explained that the story of the prow was discovered through diaries, archival records, and missionary writings. It was determined that in 1888, during the Samoan civil war, the taumualua had been destroyed by the German military and used as firewood. The prow was then stolen by a German naval officer, who eventually gave it to the Übersee-Museum in 1932. “The taking of the prow was part of the global looting for cultural heritage, which was a feature of unacceptable colonial behavior,” said Katja Keul, Minister of State at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. To read about early Polynesians' arrival on Samoa, go to "Letter from Hawaii: Inside Kauai's Past."