Intangible Cultural Heritage
'Ie Samoa, fine mat and its cultural value
The Ie Samoa is a special finely handwoven mat fastened at the hem with two rows of green and red feathers and a loose fringe on one end Traditionally woven with fine strippings of the pandanus plant the final product is silklike Its shiny coppery colour adds to its value as it is a testament to its age and the natural bleaching process it undergoes The production process involves a high level of intricacy as each woven strand is as little as one millimeter wide Producing a single Ie Samoa can therefore take up to several months and even years Nevertheless the Ie Samoa is more than a cultural product involving exceptional skill its true value lies in its use as an object of exchange in traditional ceremonies and rituals that reaffirm kinship ties and strengthen community wellbeing The Ie Samoa is displayed and exchanged at festive celebrations or on important gatherings such as weddings and funerals and its exchange contributes profoundly to the maintenance of the social structure Today an increasing number of young female weavers are involved and even male weavers Women and master weavers have established fine mat committees within their villages allowing them to exchange ideas about best practice for weaving and to boost opportunities for strengthening the transmission of the art form
Samoa -