The Fire Knife is a traditional Samoan cultural implement that is used in ceremonial dances. Originally composed of a machete wrapped in towels on both ends with a portion of the blade exposed in middle, tribal performers (or Siva Afi as it is called in Samoa) twirl the knife and do acrobatic stunts while dancing. The towels are set afire during the dances thus explaining the name.

Samoa 50 Tala (Back) - Fire Knife Dancing

Freddie Letuli, (b. April 30, 1919 as Uluao Letuli Misilagi in the village of Nu'uuli in American Samoa, d. 2003), originated the fire knife dance in 1946 at the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, previously dancing in Hawaii and Los Angeles with two knives. Along with performing, Freddie was also the teacher to the early fire knife dancers.

Today there are world fire knife dance competitions.

The History of the Samoan Fireknife Dance as told by P.C. Letuli Olo Misilagi (aka Freddie Letuli, father of fire knife dance)

In 1946 at Golden State Park in San Francisco, I started the fireknife dance of Samoa. I was intrigued by a Hindu fire eater and a young girl twirling her baton fitted with light bulbs on either end. All of us were rehearsing our particular talents to perform for the Shriner's Convention.

I asked the Hindu man for some of his white gas, and I wrapped a towel around the blade of my knife. While not perfect, the Flaming Sword of Samoa became a reality.

Many people helped me and advised me on the materials to use to hold the fire to my knives and, in turn, I did my best to perfect the fire knife and to pass this talent on to others.

I did not dream that the fire knife dance would become so widespread, nor that so many people with such diverse backgrounds would pursue the Samoan Fire Knife Dance.

I thank Pulefano Galea'i and the people at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii for hosting the World Fire Knife Competition every year. I also thank Lene Leota and the Ailao Club from the Independent State of Samoa for hosting the annual Fire Knife Competition in Samoa.

Finally, my heartfelt thanks to Flaming Sword of Samoa for bringing the World Fire Knife Competition home to American Samoa

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fire Knife" and from the Wikipedia article "Freddie Letuli"