Eti Saaga, also spelled Eti Sa'aga, (February 2, 1950 – December 13, 2017) was a Samoan-born

American Samoa American Samoa ( sm, Amerika Sāmoa, ; also ' or ') is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the island country of Samoa. Its location is centered on . It is east of the International ...

n poet, writer, journalist, press officer, television and radio host, and producer. His most well-known poem, "Me the Labourer", is studied as part of the curriculum at universities throughout Oceania, including

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

, New Zealand, and his native

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

. Saaga, who emigrating from Samoa to

in 1978, also served as a

speech writer A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are employed by many senior-level elected officials and executives in the government and private sectors. They can also be ...

press officer A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage. Duti ...

and translator for the late U.S. Congressman

Eni Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. (; August 15, 1943 – February 22, 2017) was an American Samoan politician and attorney who served as the territory's lieutenant governor (1985-1989) and non-voting delegate to the United States House of Repr ...

for more than 20 years. Saaga was born on February 2, 1950, in

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

. In 1970, Saaga graduated from Samoa College, where he studied under

Albert Wendt Albert Tuaopepe Wendt (born 27 October 1939) is a Samoan poet and writer who lives in New Zealand. He is one of the most influential writers in Oceania. His notable works include ''Sons for the Return Home'', published in 1973 (adapted into a ...

, an English teacher and novelist who was one of his greatest influences. He did not accept a scholarship offer to study in New Zealand, choosing, instead to work as a road builder and labourer in Samoa. During this time, Saaga wrote his most famous poem, "Me the Labourer", which is now taught at colleges and universities throughout Australia and the

Pacific Islands Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...

. Saaga next worked as a journalist for the ''Samoa Times'', based in Apia, during the 1970s. In 1978, he emigrated to nearby

with his wife, Otilia Hunkin Saaga. He soon became a press officer for the American Samoan Department of Education. Saaga then worked for the late U.S. Congressman

(D-AS) for more than twenty years as a senior aide, press officer, speechwriter, and translator. He also worked as a broadcaster and announcer for

KSBS-FM KSBS-FM (92.1 FM) is Samoa's first commercial FM radio station broadcasting a variety format including local Polynesian, oldies, easy listening music. KSBS-FM broadcasts religious programming on Sunday mornings as well as hourly news from the BB ...

Flag Day programming during this same era. Saaga died at the Kuakini Medical Centre in

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

, Hawaii, on December 13, 2017, at the age of 67. He had been in declining health for the previous six years. He was predeceased by his wife, Otilia Hunkin Saaga, and survived by their four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saaga, Eti 1950 births 2017 deaths Samoan male poets American Samoan poets Samoan journalists American speechwriters American Samoan civil servants Samoan emigrants to American Samoa 20th-century Samoan poets