The National University of Samoa (NUS) and the German Übersee-Museum Bremen
celebrated the official handover and signing ceremony of a historical prow of a
taumualua, an iconic war canoe artefact. This epic moment represents a significant
breakthrough in the quest to uncover the true provenance of this valuable relic, which
is set to shed new light on the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific and the fascinating
history of Samoa; as both institutions embark on a collaborative journey to uncover
and preserve the stories and traditions of the Pacific people.
The prow, taken from Samoa in 1888 during the Samoan Civil War, has been returned
to its homeland after 134 years. The handover ceremony also marked the culmination
of a four-year cooperation project between the Übersee-Museum Bremen and NUS,
which aimed to research the ethnographic history of the object and its significance to
Samoan culture.
The event was attended by prominent guests, including the German Minister of State,
Her Excellency Ms. Katja Keul, Her Excellency Ms. Si’alei Van Toor, New Zealand High
Commissioner to Samoa, Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, His Excellency Mr. Fei
Mingxing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of

China to the Independent State of Samoa, Dr. Wiebke Arhndt, Director of Übersee-
Museum Bremen as well as the Pro-Chancellor of NUS, Professor Letuimanu’asina Emma

Kruse-Vaai.
German Minister of State, H.E Ms. Katja Keul highlighted the significance of cultural
heritage in understanding where we come from and where we are going. “Cultural
artefacts are an essential part of the identity of every people. No one should be
deprived of this aspect of their identity. The return of cultural heritage is part of our

commitment to coming to terms with Germany’s colonial past – a process much
overdue in German society. Hence, we are grateful for your partnership and friendship
and hope that the findings of this project will open up even new chapters of
cooperation.”
On behalf of the Government of Samoa and the Honourable Minister of Education,
Afioga Honourable Seuula Ioane, Professor Tuifuisa’a Patila Amosa, Vice-Chancellor
and President of the National University of Samoa, thanked the German Minister and
the Übersee-Museum Bremen for their collaboration and considering the return of the
prow to Samoa to be housed here at the National University of Samoa. “This material
culture holds information about a period of Samoan history that is often preserved in
our oral stories, textbooks, and museums. As a result, the return of the prow is not only a
connection to Samoa’s past but will also allow students, community members, tourists,
and Samoan matai to have deeper conversations on Samoan history, both in the
classroom and the community.”
The ceremony also marked a new chapter in Samoan-German friendship, with Minister
Keul highlighting the importance of our joint fight against climate change and
preserving cultural heritage. “Climate change is a threat to our cultural heritage. But
we value even more what has been handed down to us from the past. Therefore, we
look for ways to preserve our tangible and intangible cultural assets for future
generations.”
The joint exhibition on the prow’s history will be held at NUS later this year, followed by
an exhibition at the Übersee-Museum Bremen in March 2025.