Malo! 💌

Filemu is a print and online project by my partner Iosua Ah-Hao, and myself Taualofa Totua. The title is Samoan and we discussed the origins of our ongoing project with Faith Wilson of Pantograph Punch in March. You can read it here. 🌱

"‘Filemu’ is a Sāmoan word and, growing up, it’s a word that I would hear from my mum, nana and aunties, telling us to be quiet or relax. I often heard it being said to my baby cousins when they were crying... The Sāmoan language is a lot more nuanced than English. Filemu is one of the words I kept coming back to, and I discovered it meant a lot more than just peace or peacefulness. I wanted to unpack that a little bit. Sua found a definition of filemu that fitted what we both needed and wanted to share [through our project]: feeling safe and sound."

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Here's some more about us as individual makers x

Iosua Ah-Hao (He/Him), 23, a Self-taught maker is a member of Raroboys collective. Specialising in painting, graphic design and all things digital. Drawing inspiration and idea’s from connections with close friends, family and those within his community by creating work that brings those connections altogether. His work aims to tug at the idea of familiarity, reminding himself and others who and what makes them who they are now.

Taualofa Totua (They/Them) 23, is a tauiwi writer, collage maker, Pacific Climate Warrior and big sis. Their written practice is inspired by nostalgic storytelling and legacy. Totua’s work addresses love, youth, family, feminism and the widespread impacts of colonial systems on Pacific diaspora. Their journalism and creative direction has mirrored these themes and aims to centre the voices and experiences of BIPOC. A recent graduate of Journalism programme 'The Next Page', Totua began writing with respected student media magazine Salient in 2019 and has since written for Ensemble Magazine, The Spinoff, The Coconet TV, Metro Magazine and The Pantograph Punch.

Fa'afetai for reading and viewing our project / profile! 💰☁️💌

Follow us on IG:

Filemu @filemu_zine

makes things look skuxx @southaucklandtrash

zine mom @lofa_totua