About the Book
E uiga i let tusi
Written in experimental and lyrical poetic forms, Sourcing Siapo explores themes of loss, abandonment, poverty, abuse, and the power of reconciliation and transcendence. Ultimately it is a book-length poem about one family’s story. The narrator, January, embarks on a journey with her seven brothers and two sisters, each named by their birth month, in search of a forgotten identity and way of life. After her parent’s divorce and her mother’s remarriage to “the drunk,” January’s story reveals the aftermath of losing her Samoan father and relatives, her Samoan language and cultural heritage.
What is siapo?
Samoan bark cloth, also known as tapa, is made from the mulberry tree. When I was first united with my father and relatives my Aunt Tauvela gave my sister and me large pieces of the Tongan tapa. My Aunt briefly explained on how the siapo was made; made only by the women in the village—it is women’s work, and it is very hard work.
What is siapo?
Samoan bark cloth, also known as tapa, is made from the mulberry tree. When I was first united with my father and relatives my Aunt Tauvela gave my sister and me large pieces of the Tongan tapa. My Aunt briefly explained on how the siapo was made; made only by the women in the village—it is women’s work, and it is very hard work.