Apia gets her groove on

Getting Apia ready


Like an anxious hostess, Apia is getting her house in order for the biggest party in the country's history: Friday's 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Banners are being strung, flashing lights hung along the entire bayfront, fences are being painted and wooden shelters sawed, erected and their roofs thatched.

It's all go here.



Thatching roofs for Independence.

Even over the din of the cicadas the sound of hammering and chainsaws resonates from the beach front.

On Friday downtown Apia will come alive, with more than 10,000 of her 180,000 people expected to take part in a parade past the parliament grounds. UB40 will be playing a concert at the national rugby stadium and foreign dignitaries will be streaming into the Pacific Island nation. It's been 50 years since Samoa became the first Pacific nation to become independent, having been a colony of New Zealand's since World War I. Before that it was German Samoa and before that the Brits and the Americans were here.

Two weeks of holiday have been declared and Apia is positively brimming. Usually folks head out into their villages when they don't have to work. This week the villages are heading into town.



Not everyone was happy to have their picture taken.


Everyone is excited. "Are you here for Independence?" I've been asked a dozen times. And when I say I am, a big smile is my reward. I'm sure most people here had to do some research as to who UB40 is or was, especially anyone under 25. I guarantee you not everyone is as excited as I am to be able to see them - not even my friend who flew in with the band today.

It's going to be a wild and busy time for Apia in the spotlight. There is everything from canoe and Fautasi races to a Fa'afafine Association Beauty Pageant and a step group and Naval band from the United States.

The Samoans seem geared up for a party. A group of desolate-looking buskers drew a crowd of several hundred in the blinding lunchtime heat today. They were more audience than the band seemed to want to handle.

All the while the paint goes on, the lights go up, the Samoan flag flies proudly everywhere. And everyone, it seems, is wearing a smile.