Flaming Sword of Samoa is a fascinating chronicle of the life of showman and Paramount Chief Freddie Letuli. Born in a small village in American Samoa, Letuli created the fire knife dance that spawned a whole generation of entertainers and carried the color and excitement of Polynesia around the world — from Pago Pago to Hollywood to Las Vegas' Cirque du Soleil. Written in his own words, as told to his wife, Patricia Letuli, Flaming Sword of Samoa also features an extensive gallery of photographs, posters and news items tracing the evolution of the dance and Freddie Letuli's long career in show business &mdash from Hollywood films and television shows to international nightclub stages. Foreword by America Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono.
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Fire knife dance inventor's story is rich, sweet
It is impossible not to be charmed by this autobiography of the man who invented fire knife dancing, the late Paramount Chief Letuli Olo "Freddie" Uluao Misilagi Letuli of Fogagogo, on Tutuila, American Samoa. Letuli, who died in 2003 at 84, lived in Hawai'i for a time, had many friends here and was a special guest at the World Fire Knife Championship at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Part photo album, part memoir, the book recalls what seems to be a sweeter, simpler time and a man who, by all accounts, had an exceptionally loving and benevolent nature — especially surprising considering the warrior-like way that he had with the wicked-looking nifo 'oti (traditional Samoan hooked killing knife).
Letuli reports, but does not dwell on, racial prejudice he encountered when traveling across the United States with his Polynesian dance troupe in the 1950s. And he seems more grateful than offended by the fact that, in 24 years as a bit part actor in Hollywood, he was the generic "brown man," playing characters of ethnicities that ranged from Arab to Native American, Mexican to Hawaiian.
"I think I spent more time in Wardrobe and Make-up than I did on the set," he writes. "Now I look back at myself doing a double-knife routine in 'On An Island With You,' and two thoughts come immediately to mind. 1) I was so young! 2) it was such fun!"
How Letuli got from a tiny, remote island to Hollywood; how a boy raised on the land became (of all things) a professional dancer and actor; and how he got the idea for setting fire to his knife act all are interesting chapters in a most unlikely life. He apologizes not at all for the fact that much of what he did in early performances was made up or embroidered upon, even the famous slap dances he did to a song of nonsense syllables that just sounded Samoan. He would return to his authentic roots later, and his rightful place as a talking chief, but when in Hollywood at the peak of the fascination with all things Polynesian, he put on a show.
The book includes a scholarly look at the history of the Samoan "death knife"; some really amusing photographs and anecdotes about Letuli sidekicks Kui Lee and George Paoa, among others; and remembrances of him written by siva afi (knife dance) champions who studied under Letuli. --Wanda Adams, The Honolulu Advertiser
It is impossible not to be charmed by this autobiography of the man who invented fire knife dancing, the late Paramount Chief Letuli Olo "Freddie" Uluao Misilagi Letuli of Fogagogo, on Tutuila, American Samoa. Letuli, who died in 2003 at 84, lived in Hawai'i for a time, had many friends here and was a special guest at the World Fire Knife Championship at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Part photo album, part memoir, the book recalls what seems to be a sweeter, simpler time and a man who, by all accounts, had an exceptionally loving and benevolent nature — especially surprising considering the warrior-like way that he had with the wicked-looking nifo 'oti (traditional Samoan hooked killing knife).
Letuli reports, but does not dwell on, racial prejudice he encountered when traveling across the United States with his Polynesian dance troupe in the 1950s. And he seems more grateful than offended by the fact that, in 24 years as a bit part actor in Hollywood, he was the generic "brown man," playing characters of ethnicities that ranged from Arab to Native American, Mexican to Hawaiian.
"I think I spent more time in Wardrobe and Make-up than I did on the set," he writes. "Now I look back at myself doing a double-knife routine in 'On An Island With You,' and two thoughts come immediately to mind. 1) I was so young! 2) it was such fun!"
How Letuli got from a tiny, remote island to Hollywood; how a boy raised on the land became (of all things) a professional dancer and actor; and how he got the idea for setting fire to his knife act all are interesting chapters in a most unlikely life. He apologizes not at all for the fact that much of what he did in early performances was made up or embroidered upon, even the famous slap dances he did to a song of nonsense syllables that just sounded Samoan. He would return to his authentic roots later, and his rightful place as a talking chief, but when in Hollywood at the peak of the fascination with all things Polynesian, he put on a show.
The book includes a scholarly look at the history of the Samoan "death knife"; some really amusing photographs and anecdotes about Letuli sidekicks Kui Lee and George Paoa, among others; and remembrances of him written by siva afi (knife dance) champions who studied under Letuli. --Wanda Adams, The Honolulu Advertiser
About the Author
Paramount Chief Letuli Olo Uluao Misilagi (1919-2003), was born in the village of Nuu`uli, American Samoa, and soon came to be called "Freddie" Letuli, after the legendary dancer Fred Astaire. Recognized as the Father of the Fire Knife Dance, he enjoyed a long career in show business, performing in Hollywood films and on stages across the U.S. and in Europe. In American Samoa, he was a Paramount Chief, a High Talking Chief, a two-term Senator in the Legislature of American Samoa, and, for nine years, a High Court Associate Judge. In 1965, He married Patricia Rae Adair, a New Mexico native raised in Arizona. During nearly 40 years of marriage, the couple raised ten children at their family home at Freddie's Beach, Fogagogo, American Samoa. At last count, they have 26 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
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