In 2013, the Tiapapata Art Centre commissioned the building of a traditional Samoan house for receiving guests (faletalimalo). The house was built using traditional methodologies and materials, including over 10,000 metres of sennit ('afa). 'Afa or coconut sennit is one of the most important of Samoa's cultural products and to celebrate this ingenious discovery made by early Samoans, the Tiapapata Art Centre, with support under the United States Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, produced a documentary film and published a photoessay in Samoan and English titled "O le 'Afa Samoa ~ Samoan Sennit." 

 

Make a contribution to help with this and other cultural preservation projects, and receive your copies of the documentary and photoessay. This structure has been referred to by UNESCO-Apia as the most authentic Samoan house in Samoa.