It has been a week of high drama in Samoa, and somehow it ended with an ifoga, reconciliation and more tears.
Saleapaga village performed the traditional apology to Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt after one of its men was charged over an alleged threat on Facebook to kill him. The Prime Minister accepted it during an emotional ceremony attended by Cabinet ministers and Government representatives.
There were tears. The Prime Minister has shown during his relatively short time in office that he is not afraid to cry. Samoa may yet have to become accustomed to seeing its leader overcome with emotion and tears.
A ifoga is one of the most powerful expressions of Samoan culture, capable of bringing people together after serious disagreements and offences.
But Government cannot become distracted by a ceremony which resulted from an alleged Facebook post when some very basic problems remain unresolved.
