A Collaborative Creative Work

Abstract

These three works are first framed with a poem collated by Mere Taito. The cover art, Ka Pō Hoʻihoʻi - Black as the Spectrum in Unity (2020), builds upon a conversation ignited by Dr Sarah Jane Moore’s Lunar Mother, and her invitation to collaborate. The dialogue began via zoom connecting Dr. Moore with three other Pacific scholars based at the University of Waikato in Kirikiriroa-Hamilton, Aotearoa-New Zealand: Dr David Taufui Mikato Fa’avae from Tonga, Mere Taito from Rotuma, and Dr Nālani Wilson-Hokowhitu from Hawai’i.

Upon reflecting on the poems “Fạgi”, “Tạn Folu”, and “Ho’ag Ne Sȧs Ta”, Mere Taito expresses how her creative project speaks to Ka Pō Hoʻihoʻi (2020), as it is also way of "returning, a returning to her heritage language Fäeag Rotuạm ta which has become rusty and broken along the way because of the lack of 'proper keeping'.” Her creative contribution summarises her present work toward a creative doctorate. Dr Fa’avae communicates how he calls “potent spiritual energies that ignite the loto, laumālie, and ‘atamai (soul, spirit, and mind).” Thus, also articulating potentiality, which he explores within cultural sources, maau (poetry) and faiva (dance). All of the submissions express the vitality of language, culture, genealogy, poetry, creativity and identity.