To introduce students to how other cultures resolve conflicts, Michael Ligaliga and students gathered to learn about Ifoga - a Samoan ritual of apology and forgiveness - sponsored by David O McKay Intercultural Peacebuilding on March 14 in McKay Foyer. Ifoga means bowing down in the Samoan language. It is a traditional and physical ritual apology for the guilty party to demonstrate remorse and beg for forgiveness. It has been practiced for more than 200 years with the aim to maintain good relationships, said Ligaliga. He said before dawn, the guilty party arrives with gifts and kneels outside the house of the offended party. Once the offended party decides to accept the Ifoga, they take off the mat that covers the guilty party, which symbolizes atonement and forgiveness. Then both parties have a feast together as a symbol of peace. An important part of the Ifoga is the fine mat, he said, which symbolizes high value in Samoan culture. This mat, made from tree leaves, can be very costly and takes years to complete, according to Ligaliga. He said his family has a mat that cost over $10,000.As a collectivism society, harmony has an important function in the Samoan culture. Ligaliga said, “When Samoans first meet, they ask ‘who is your parent?’ In Samoan culture, there is no such concept as ‘me,’ but ‘us.’ A person is a relational being and we are all apart of the circle.” In other words, everyone is affected when one party is engaged in conflict. Ligaliga said, “It is like the Samoan proverb says ‘stone maybe reduced to sand, but words never decay.’”Shame is a key element that makes the ritual powerful. “Shame in Ifoga can be best explained by another Samoan proverb, ‘I would rather die than bring shame.’ It is similar to the English slang, ‘Take it for the team,’” said Ligaliga. Since it is considered shameful to offend others, it is also shameful to not accept an Ifoga. He said, “I’ve never heard a rejection to Ifoga my life. But if an Ifoga ever was rejected, the offenders would leave, but come back soon and try again.” Besides harmony and shame, fear also plays an important role in the ritual. “Nothing can be hidden under the sun,” Ligaliga explained with a Samoan proverb. “People fear to be punished by God and Aitu (supernatural) because all punishment will always be revealed in due time.”“Although Ifoga is a powerful practice to maintain peace in Samoa, it might not be able to be understood to the West,” said Ligaliga. Sarah Yeung, a sophomore majoring in communication from Hong Kong, said she could relate Ifoga to Chinese culture. “Hong Kong is still pretty collectivism although it is highly westernized. We have similar rituals like to kneel, bow down, and offer tea. Traditionally, we also offer gifts like food or money. Today, we still give presents as an offering and visit the family for an apology.” Chantel Hunt, a senior majoring in anthropology from Utah, said she expected to learn how peace is built outside the West. She said, “I don’t know much about Samoan culture and I want to see the alternative way of conflict resolution. A western worldview sometimes makes a conflict resolution more difficult. We should learn from the collectivism culture.”
Writer: Clover Cheng ~ Multimedia Journalist
