Authentic Samoan Music: History, Instruments, and Cultural Significance

Historical Influences on Samoan Music

To understand authentic Samoan music, one must first look at the country’s history. Germany colonized the country in 1900 and was later occupied by New Zealand in 1914 (Winick, 2022). During this time, Western influences began to seep into Samoan culture, including its music. Introducing Western instruments such as guitars and pianos led to the fusion of traditional Samoan rhythms with Western melodies (Sample Pack: The music of Samoa, n.d.). Despite these changes, traditional Samoan music continued to thrive.

Traditional Instruments and Cultural Significance

It was conducted for significant rituals, including weddings, memorial services, and other social gatherings. In performances, older instruments like the pate (a wooden drum), Fala (a mat), and conch shell were still employed. The utilization of Indigenous instruments and rhythms now distinguishes authentic Samoan music (Solomona & Bendrups, 2019). Through lyrics that frequently recount stories about love, family ties, or historical events, it portrays the values and beliefs of the Samoan people.

Challenges in Defining Authentic Samoan Music

Samoan music is firmly anchored in history and custom, which is one of the key reasons why it might be challenging to determine its authenticity. Since ancient times, Samoan music has been passed down through the generations and has changed over time to reflect societal and cultural shifts. As a result, several distinct Samoan music genres have developed over time, each with its special traits and inspirations. Since no particular style or sound can be said to be Samoan music, defining what it is may be difficult.

Embracing Musical Diversity and Cultural Exchange

Finally, if chordophones like the guitar are not native to some parts of the world, this does not preclude their creative usage within the musical traditions of such societies. People must treat these resources with care and an understanding of their historical roots because the sharing of musical ideas and instruments has always been a part of human history (Campos et al., 2023). People may contribute to a more varied and lively global music landscape while enhancing our musical heritage.

References

Campos, F. Z., Hull, J. R., & Hồng, V. T. (2023). In search of a musical past: evidence for early chordophones from Vietnam. Antiquity, 97(391), 141–157. Web.

Sample pack: The music of Samoa. (n.d.). Web.

Solomona, S. S. T. M. P., & Bendrups, D. (2019). Exploring Samoan brass bands: Notes on their development and performance practices after independence. The World of Music, 8(2), 27–38. Web.

Winick, S. (2022). Homegrown plus: Traditional dance from American Samoa. The Library of Congress. Web.

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StudyCorgi. "Authentic Samoan Music: History, Instruments, and Cultural Significance." October 9, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/authentic-samoan-music-history-instruments-and-cultural-significance/.

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StudyCorgi. 2025. "Authentic Samoan Music: History, Instruments, and Cultural Significance." October 9, 2025. https://studycorgi.com/authentic-samoan-music-history-instruments-and-cultural-significance/.

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