Teine o le U'amea A'asa

Marley Adam, known as "Teine o le U’amea A’asa" (The Girl of Burning Iron) carries a deep respect for her culture, a name that speaks to the fierce warrior spirit and unbreakable strength within her.

“Teine o le U’amea A’asa” showcases Marley’s identity and indigenous storytelling through cultural arts, not only through Siva Afi but also Siva Samoa, expressing her natural talent with every performance. Standing forged in fire by the unyielding grace of culture encompassing strength and resilience, she is a true testament to her bloodline of entertainers hailing from the villages of Vaito'omuli and Vailoa in Palauli, Samoa and her iwi Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Ngāi Tahu.

This project aims to provide Marley with greater opportunities to travel, perform, compete, and inspire others with her artistry. By supporting this initiative, you will help Marley ignite passion, lead with authentic integrity, and shine confidently on the Siva Afi stage.

She has already had the privilege of standing alongside incredible local talent from Wellington and Auckland in 2024 and 2025 at the Siva Afi Aotearoa Festival in Mangere placing second in the Intermediate mixed grade this year. Internationally she has competed twice at the World Fire Knife Championships in Hawai’i and Marley is fortunate to be returning to Brisbane, Australia on September 26 for the Toa Ole Afi Pati Levasa Fire Knife Competition where she placed second in the Junior girls grade last year. 

Your contribution will enable the fire in her heart to continue burning bright, not just for herself, but for everyone behind her every step, every spin, and strike of the knife and flame she represents. 

From her culture and the village of supporters who uplift and encourage her all the way from her hometown of Porirua, Wellington to the world!

Marley is a 13-year-old student attending St Mary’s College in Wellington. She is a proud Rangatahi Māori and Teine Samoa who embodies her rich Polynesian heritage through her performances shaped by the influence and traditions of her ancestors. She is a recent member of Anamua Fou Dance, a Wellington collective of talented Pasifika dancers and creatives who role model and inspire her deep passion for performing arts. They are one part of her village always supporting and cheering her on.

A humble achiever with an invested interest and love for her culture, Marley has gained the confidence and belief to pursue any opportunities that come her way. This proved beneficial, as she was selected as a Year 9 representative on the St Mary's College Cultural Committee for 2025.

Since 2023, while part of Tautua Dance, Marley has been learning and performing the traditional fire knife dance, Ailao Afi (Siva Afi), an art form that demands respect, discipline, and courage.

However, for just over a year now she has been on a solo journey as "Teine o le U'amea A'asa" performing Siva Afi independently, a whole new territory and a decision she has bravely adapted to. Marley’s individual journey is one of quiet strength, and through every challenge, injury, and opportunity, she has continued to rise with determination and humility. 

It has also enabled her to take on new challenges, step out of her comfort zone, and push uncomfortable boundaries. She has extended her friends and family network and has a beautiful support system from all corners encouraging and inspiring her including her new Auckland Afi aiga and Ohana in Hawai'i, Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Tahiti and America.

Her foundational team includes her dad, who prepares all her equipment and ensures correct fire safety procedures are in place for practices and competitions. Her uncle is amazing at capturing videos and creating content for her practices and collaborations, mum looks after costuming and her brothers, grandparents, aunties, uncles, friends and other family members are her staunchest supporters and biggest cheerleaders. Mum and dad travel to attend all her competitions and performances.

She also practices with her ‘Uso le Afi’ brothers and family from Porirua when they have time away from sports and poly club commitments. This has been great for camaraderie and sportsmanship, allowing them to support and offer each other feedback. They will all be travelling to Brisbane with their parents, along with her friends and aiga from Auckland and Tautua friends from Wellington who are also competing. 

Marley is not only dedicated to representing the art form but to being a positive role model for the culture and for others who may one day follow in her footsteps just like all the Wāhine and Tama Toa mentors who inspire her and whom she looks up to around the world.

With all the amazing opportunities come significant costs. Supporting Marley will help ensure she can continue to share her love and pride for culture. Marley’s airfare and competition fees have already been paid for, so this funding would directly support the following additional costs:

• Resources and equipment for her fire knives and practices in the lead-up to the competition
• Merchandise/Cultural costuming costs
• Transport
• Accommodation
• Daily expenses

It is an investment in more than just a single performer. It is an investment in the preservation, celebration, and continued evolution of Polynesian cultural arts on both local and international stages.

This funding will also allow her not only to keep competing but to keep connecting and strengthening new relationships and telling her story through fire, movement, and legacy. It will allow her opportunities to share her knowledge and kōrero in post-event, gigs and community events upon her return in October and into the future.

Connecting with performers from around the world, building on her newfound friendships, families and her extended village walking alongside her pathway, standing in her truth through cultural performance is very important in her journey of performing arts.

This project is dedicated to supporting Marley as a Siva Afi performer at the upcoming international fire-knife competition in Brisbane, Australia, her fourth global event and a significant step in her journey. 

The project will support Marley's ongoing training and development into the future, ensuring she has access to mentors in the field. This will help her refine her skills and keep learning from Siva Afi legends and world champions who have been amazing in providing encouraging advice and support.

Marley will be able to participate in workshops and community events where she can share her knowledge and passion for Siva Afi with others. These events will help foster a deeper appreciation for Polynesian culture and inspire the next generation of performers.

By promoting Marley's performances and achievements, we hope to increase visibility and reach a wider audience to help bring exposure to this specialized dance form. She is currently taking part in 'Through the lens of the Pacific' a local initiative for community by community. This is a creative platform and collaboration of pasifika sharing in cultural storytelling being captured by Tana Photography.

Siva Afi is more than just a performance art; it is a vital part of Polynesian culture. By supporting Marley, we are helping to preserve and promote this beautiful tradition. Marley's journey is evidence of the power of perseverance, passion, and cultural pride. By enabling her to continue being creative, we are empowering her to be a role model for others, showing that it is possible to achieve great things not only in a team but as an individual while staying true to one's roots.

This project is about the community that stands behind and beside her. By contributing to this initiative, supporters are helping to create a network of encouragement and solidarity that uplifts everyone involved.

Marley will be able to continue representing Porirua, Wellington, Aotearoa and her Māori-Pacific heritage with pride and provide her with the resources and opportunities she needs to continue performing.

She will inspire a new generation of young and aspiring Siva Afi and Siva Samoa artists through her performances, visibility, and example, especially wāhine navigating cultural spaces where they are still underrepresented.

Strengthening cultural connections with global performers and building on newly formed local and international relationships will open the door for cultural exchange, learning, and shared storytelling across the Pacific.

Promoting cultural identity and wellbeing by showcasing the power of traditional performance and self-expression will connect people to their roots in deeply meaningful ways.

Marley will continue developing and sharing her artistry and quiet leadership, gaining experience and exposure that will help her mentor and genuinely support others walking a similar path in this creative space on the world stage.