Kros/Cross- Albert Leomala

Brief#2

Kros/Cross – Albert Leomala

Albert Leomala is a well established poet/politician from Vanuatu, who has graduated from the University of the South Pacific which is one if his many achievements.

The poem Kros was published in Lali: A Pacific Anthology (1980) by Albert Wendt along with another poem of his named Niuhebridis or New Hebridis. Both poems are published in Pidgin English also known as Bislama along with English. Both languages are national languages of Vanuatu along with French, which gives us an insight in to the colonial powers that have entered and influenced Vanuatu.

Religion has had a major impact on nearly all nations in the Pacific with the majority of Pacific Islanders claiming to be religious, and belonging to many ‘faiths’ including Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist, and Christianity. Kros gives us an example of Leomala’s thoughts and feelings on the impact religion has had on Vanuatu specifically, although it is reasonable to assume he is regarding the effects it has had on all Pacific nations. Leomala doesn't state or address any particular religion in the poem, but we can assume he is regarding Christianity seeing as it is the predominant religion in Vanuatu with approximately 83% of Ni-Vanuatu (the people of Vanuatu) identifying themselves as Christians. Leomala may also be generalising all religions that have impacted Ni-Vanuatu.

Western missionaries first introduced Christianity to Vanuatu in the 19^th century. They varied in their attitudes towards Pacific customs but most considered much of the Melanesian culture and traditions unacceptable deeming them as sinful, and taught the indigenous people that in order for them to live a holy life and follow a righteous path they had to either compromise their traditions (not necessarily all of them) or in most cases discontinue them. This ultimately influenced certain rituals, deeming the exposure of woman’s breasts as inappropriate and tattooing gradually became less and less common. Interestingly enough, tattooing is still very popular in Samoa. Most importantly their teachings influenced the minds of Ni-Vanuatu resulting in a dramatic change in what they valued.

In my opinion, because Ni-Vanuatu no longer prioritised their customs and valued the Church more, they didn’t realise the severity of the loss of their traditions because they thought they were doing what was right at that time. Because certain traditions weren’t practiced on a regular basis this resulted in the generations that followed becoming less and less knowledgeable about traditions that were once highly regarded in their community. In Leomala’s case he blames the Church for this happening and this is apparent with his use of sentences such as ‘Cross I hate you’ and ‘You are killing me, you are destroying my traditions’.

Before missionaries entered Vanuatu, traders, labour recruiters and other western influences had already arrived there. They also influenced Ni-Vanuatu’s values by introducing goods such as rifles and liquor which were foreign items to them at the time, the introduction of these created a lust of the indigenous people to attain these items which had a negative impact of the local communities.

Sons for the Return Home

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel and will seek to find more Pacific literature, specifically by Albert Wendt. This is the first novel I’ve read that was written by a Samoan, in fact this is the first novel I’ve read written by a ‘P.I’. On the cover of the novel it states ‘Samoan-born Albert Wendt was working as a teacher in Samoa when he wrote the autobiographical Sons for the Return Home,’ which leads me to believe that although the novel is fiction, he has most likely dawn on his own circumstances and experiences in life and he has integrated them into the plot. Although the majority of the story is a creation of his imagination, I like to think the characters are based on real people, although this is probably not the case.

Sons for the Return Home addresses numerous issues that ‘struck a chord’ with me, and I’m sure they have caught the attention of all those who read it, such as the relationship of a cross-racial couple, racism and stereotyping, abortion, religion, migration and his portrayal of the ‘boys’ Samoan family and his description of Samoa and Samoans living there.

The novel was first published in 1973 which would have created mixed reactions to the issues presented in the novel. By ‘mixed reactions’ I’m inferring the differences of the mindset of readers who read it in the 70’s and those who read it today simply because as the years pass by society changes and so do peoples ideologies. There are people who hold on to the ‘old’ way of life and their ‘old traditions’ but in my opinion ‘evolution’ is a natural way of life and impinges on everyone as it does with P.I’s that still live in the islands and those who migrate. Migrants naturally adapt to the country they live in, of course I can’t assume that all migrants have adapted to the ways of the new society they live in, but I can justify this claim by relating migration and the effects it has on migrants to comparing this to focusing on its effects on my own family. My father was born in NZ and went back to Samoa when he was young and was brought up there. My mother was born in Niue and was also raised in her mother land, yet they have both adapted to the NZ way of life.

A cross-racial couple would have most likely been frowned upon in the 70’s, yet it isn't as big of an issue today because it is more common. It leaves me wondering how a Samoan family in Samoa or migrants living in other countries would react to their children potentially marrying a ‘Palagi’ today. I can only answer this by relating this to my personal experiences. I’m engaged to a ‘Palagi’ or European and we have a daughter (who is obviously ‘half-cast’). My parents didn't detest our relationship at all. Yet they were both brought up in the ‘Islands’ and strive to live their lives in accordance to the teachings they were taught ‘at home’ (the Islands). Their reactions towards my relationship represent a ‘modern islander’ as I like to put it meaning their beliefs have changed and adapted to a ‘NZ way of life’ or a ‘modern way of life.’ I have no fear of my daughter being scrutinized throughout her life, which is another issue Wendt highlighted in the novel by the ‘boys mums’ negative predictions of her half-cast grandchild’s future. I believe racism that was addressed in the novel is not as present in today’s society which makes me comfortable and excited when I envisage the future of my family.

Sons of the Return home was a very interesting novel to read. I found the novel to be very in-depth with how different cultures relate to others, in this case, A Pakeha and an Islander. A part of the story I found interesting was on page 17-18, when the boy and girl of different cultures argue. This reminds me of me and my best friend, we are from two completely different cultures and share different beliefs in life. However, like the Sons of the Return home novel, we were able to reconcile our differences.

I'm not sorry any more

I’m not sorry any more is a very strong poem. What I believe the poem is about is the Europeans coming in and taking over the land. The first stanza talks about the Europeans being the boss and the islanders being the servant. This is symbolising when the Europeans came in and took over and the islanders were looked down on and had lost control over their land. The second stanza is the author asking who truly owns the land. They were fighting for whose land it really was. The third stanza talks about how the Europeans came in and took over but he won’t let it happen again, in a way is like a warning to the Europeans that he’s taking back what is his and isn’t going to let them take it again. The last stanza is also talking about him not letting the Europeans take his land. He is telling them that it is his and that he “belongs to the land”. I think this very emotionally powerful as the pacific islanders in this poem are taking a stand and are fighting for what they know is theirs. I think its sort of a warning to the Europeans that they aren’t going to let it happen again. The land is theirs and they are there to stay. I really enjoyed this poem and it makes me happy to think they are standing up for themselves and are no longer letting the Europeans take over. 

The Children

This short film is about a young Samoan boy who by his parents is expected to look after his younger siblings each day and night while his parents are out working. This short film really shows the struggles that immigrant families go through as they are in a new country with a different cultures and no money. The film follows the young boy so the audience sees all the things he does in a day, ranging from taking care of the kids, feeding them, doing the washing, going to school, Changing the babies nappies and more. The only times we see the parents in the film is when they are fighting, just leaving the house or when the mum is talking to her friend about trying to manage with a job and all. The young boy in the film has the maturity of an adult which tells the audience that he has been looking after the kids for a while and has had no choice but to grow up fast. It also gives the audience the idea that he never got his own childhood. Near the end of the film the youngest baby dies. The young boy discovers the body and starts to cry as he has lost his sibling. The parents then come in and take the baby away rushing out the door leaving him to look after the other children again. We then see the family at the funeral, the other children are making a noise so the young boy gets sent outside not giving him the chance to grieve for his lost sibling. There is then a shot of the mother holding her stomach, giving the audience the idea she is pregnant with another child. I think overall this short film is giving off the idea that the parents are not able to care for their children and be there for them as they are constantly working trying to fund the family. The shot of the mother holding her stomach is gives the idea that she hasn’t learnt from the fact her child is dead as she couldn’t care for it. This makes the audience turn against her and feel more for the young boy. This short film is very strong and powerful making people really think about the fact there are many families out there who are struggling just like this. I really enjoyed watching this short film and could see the struggle and understand the families struggle.

Sons for the return home

Sons for the return home is a great novel. It really makes the reader think about what different people go through when they move to a new place, whether it is stereotypes or pressure from family living up to certain expectations of their culture. One part that I really enjoyed reading was when the younger sons is seeing the palangi girl. I think it really shows the difference in cultures between her family and his. Sons for the return really was a great book and was an interesting read.

You and Me

You and me.
Are beyond different.
Yet we talk the same.
And share that white skin.
They look at me as they once looked at you.
But I am nothing like you.

You just went in.
Like it was your place to do so.
You took in your fancy books.
And all that money.
With all your ideas.
Thinking you were Better.
Clever.
Stronger.
Well you weren’t.

They were happy.
But you wouldn’t let them say no.
You disgust me.
And now.
Because of you.
I shamefully wear this white skin.

I wrote this poem as a response to all the white people that came to the pacific island and took over. I find it very disgusting how they thought they were better. The pacific islanders were doing fine on their own with all their traditions and family. They were living off the land and the sea. I think the white people coming in was unnecessary and destroyed what they had. Although there are benefit like the education they provided I still feel ashamed as from reading many poems no one wanted them there.