Rotuman islanders resident in Samoa are preparing to celebrate Rotuma Day this Friday to mark 141 years since their island’s ceding to the United Kingdom and Fiji when it became independent.

Samoa Rotuman Association President Susau Solomona told the Samoa Observer on Tuesday that every year Rotumans all over the world celebrate Rotuma Day on 13 May in remembrance of the ceding of their island to the UK.

“This special day is the anniversary of the island’s ceding to the United Kingdom in 1881,” Ms Solomona said. “The chiefs of Rotuma ceded the island to Queen Victoria and it has been governed by Fiji since 1881. 

“When Fiji gained its independence in 1970, Rotuma remained an integral part of the island nation.”

The Samoa Rotuman Association was established three years ago and has 20 members, though Ms Solomona hopes that their membership will increase with the celebration on Friday, as Samoans with Rotuman roots join the program.

"I know there are a lot more Samoans with Rotuman ancestors so we hope this celebration made public will lure them to come join the association," she said. 

"We were going to exhibit our artefacts and also show some of our Rotuman cuisines but that plan was postponed for another year because of the lockdown.”

Rotuma lies very near the intersection of the conventional boundaries of Micronesia, Melanesian and Polynesia. Traces of influence from each sub-regional group can be found in the physical composition, language and other cultural aspects such as dances and ceremonies. 

Ms Solomona said for the first time in Samoa their 13 May commemoration will be celebrated with a documentary presentation on the island’s people, cultural ceremonies, rituals, land and kinship. 

She added that Rotumans have been in Samoa for many years with many marrying Samoans and having children and are living and working in the country. 

“Many also are here as expatriates who work in various organisations such as the Secretariat of the Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and companies such as Kooline, banks and National University of Samoa,” she said.

"In putting together this documentary, a few of our members have the chance to introduce themselves where they make their connections to Rotuma known. 

“They also took the chance to send greetings home. According to Eric Ete who hosts the documentary and assisted in putting it together, it has been a very enriching exercise for he was able to pick up a few words of the language. 

“Our young children too had the chance to say something in Rotuman. 

“It is hoped that we would take the chance in such celebrations to teach our children to speak in Rotuman and be involved and informed of their Rotuman heritage.”

The documentary will be aired at 7.30pm on Friday on the TV5 channel.