Siva Afi—also known as the Samoan fire knife dance—has a rich history that dates back centuries. Originally, it was not a performance but a warrior’s skill, used in battle to showcase strength, agility, and mastery over weapons. This was called ailao. Ailao featured the nifo oti, or “tooth of death,” a serrated war club wielded by Samoan warriors and other war clubs to reenact the battles for their villages after returning from war. Over time, this traditional combat technique evolved into a breathtaking dance.
As Samoan culture adapted to a changing world, the Samoan fire knife dance transitioned from a warrior’s ritual to a form of storytelling and celebration. By the early 20th century, it became a key element of cultural festivals and ceremonies, where dancers demonstrated their agility by twirling, tossing, and spinning the flaming knife in intricate patterns.
In 1946 Freddie Letuli, an ailao performer in San Francisco, saw a Hindu fire eater and a fire baton twirler. He asked the fire eater if he could use some of their fuel and he tied towel on to his nifo oti. This was the first performance of the flaming sword. Over time Freddie honed the craft and made adjustments and so began the Samoan fire knife dance we see today.
Modern Siva Afi performances blend tradition with innovation. While the core techniques remain the same, contemporary performers incorporate acrobatics, synchronized choreography, and even multiple knives. Today, this art form is a proud representation of Samoan heritage, performed on global stages from cultural events to major tourism shows.
Not only do we have Siva Afi performances around the world we also now have siva afi competitions. There are several competitions in Hawaii, around the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, American Samoa and Japan. Siva afi is growing around the world. With the famed Miss Samoa, Moemoana Schwenke, performing siva afi as her talent and teaching around the Pacific we are seeing a rise in women performers and competitors from around the world.
The evolution of Siva Afi reflects the resilience of Samoan culture, proving that traditions can adapt without losing their essence. Through dedicated training and passion, performers continue to honor their ancestors while keeping the flames of this ancient art alive.
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