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@xxiivanu

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“Tales of the Diaspora” is a short documentary centered on Johnny, a Cook Islander/Samoan born and raised in the United Kingdom. Despite the distance from the Pacific Islands, she and her community actively create opportunities to learn and share cultural traditions. The short film aims to spark a conversation on how we can help bridge the gap between the diaspora and cultural knowledge holders. taken in London, Unιted Kingdom by @xxiivanu

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a year ago

One of my favourite shots from the Rugby League World Cup 2022 celebrations in Samoa after Critta’s kick. Let’s run it back. Happy (safe) parade szn everyone!! 🙂‍↕️🇼🇸
#685totheworld taken in Apia, Samoa by @xxiivanu

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3 days ago

As I wrap my time up in London, I just want to quickly reflect on some of the coolest experiences whilst being here: my time at BBC.

When Iona and Kerina interviewed me, I was finishing my day at my first job as a TA and hurrying to my second job as a waitress. I assumed that this was another dead-end interview as rejection emails were as frequent as my sister’s welfare checks on me - non-stop. I had pretty much given up the dream of working in my field and faced the realities of paying my extortionate London rent with my two jobs. So imagine my face when I got THE job. And got called back again. And again.

It was an incredible ride and a bloody great introduction into my field after graduating. Saying “yes” led me to be on stage at Royal Albert Hall on my first day and read lines. Saying “yes” led me to learn from world-class professionals that have worked on some of my own favourite films and tv shows. Saying “yes” led me to be in the same dressing rooms that my favourite artists have used once before. Saying “yes” led me to gain one Cinema and three TV credits.

Before closing this chapter, I want to thank every single person that made this kid from a small village tucked away in the South Pacific feel like she belonged in every room. I want to thank everyone that also kept pushing my name in rooms I wasn’t even in. I enjoyed absolutely every single moment and I will continue to use the lessons I have learnt from here. taken in BBC London by @xxiivanu

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3 months ago

As Māsima Film Festival approaches, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.

Thank you very much for taking on our story and allowing us to share it across to a US audience. We are honoured to provide a small glimpse of the massive Pasefika diaspora that are very much alive and well in the UK.

Fa’afetai tele lava! by @xxiivanu

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4 months ago

“E au le ina’ilau a tama’ita’i”
This is a Samoan proverb that my aunty used in her speech that night. And how beautiful it has been over the last two years of filming and screenings to witness these two women embody every word of it.

Forever humbled to have been a small part of their journey and to witness such a powerful and loving form of service. Not just to their family, village, and island, but to a diaspora and community outside of their own.

I have witnessed this service of love and passion through Liddy’s time in London. Her drive to learn, understand, and showcase all that Pasifika people have built in the UK for generations deserves more flowers than I could ever gift. She never shows off all the incredible work she has done for us and the culture, but instead continually thinks of ways to make sure this diaspora and the work done is brought to light.

To think I got to sit with @lenatutuvanu and share this taonga with both our families in Auckland was surreal; even bringing Tales to NZ was surreal. Big meitaki ngao to all our people for showing up n showing love, this night and throughout

They are far too humble to talk about just how talented they both are and the difference they are making to our people, but from this project to the next, I will scream it from the rooftops ⭐️ taken in The Capitol Cinema by @xxiivanu

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5 months ago

I am incredibly proud to finally share a project I have been a part of. ‘Pacific Now’ is a beautiful initiative Johnny has spearheaded.

This snippet from “Tales of the Diaspora” gives you only a tiny insight on her innate drive to correct and accurately represent our people across Te Moananui-a-Kiwa. The altruistic passion she has and continuous advocacy to create opportunities for our people, is why we are in constant awe of her.

Despite trials and tribulations to get this project up and running, she perseveres for a greater purpose than herself: her community.

It is a great privilege to show my people the way I see them and in a space that historically was not for us. It is also a great privilege of mine to have my work shown next to people that I have looked up to since the start of my creative journey.

So thank you to @johnnyaroha , Tangata Moana Board and the National Maritime Museum for giving us the space to do so.

Check it out here:
https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/art-culture/pasifika-now

Photographers:
@jumpshot_74
@princeofmangere
@southsides
@_moaho_ taken in National Maritime Museum by @xxiivanu

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6 months ago

I spent the entirety of 2025 taking this small and short documentary of ours across multiple cities in Australia, and it felt right that it all came to a crescendo in Auckland this month. Home of ours and Johnny’s families, and many friends.

How does one begin to thank the many generous hands and open hearts that facilitated this journey?

Fai mea mafai.
Auā lea ua tu’u atoa i ai le malosi ma le loto atoa. These Samoan sentences describe what the word “might” means with our Pasifika people in the diaspora.

Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and finally Auckland poured into our cups with as much care and reverence as we did into making Tales of the Diaspora. We were given spaces that never dawned on us to enter. I got to meet faces that received our message with equal parts curiosity, respect, gratitude and inviting enthusiasm. That is the might of our Pasifika people. And what astonishing beauty it is.

For that, I am deeply humbled and astoundingly moved.

This is our first project. A YouTube premiere might have sufficed. And perhaps we could’ve stopped when multiple film festivals kept rejecting us. But, our mother didn’t raise a quitter.

I thank everyone who came to all our screenings immensely, for showing up for us. Especially when you didn’t know who we were or if our project was worth seeing. Thank you, thank you. Thank. You.

Tales will now rest.
But Liddy and I will keep working; there’s more to come.

-Lena by @xxiivanu

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9 months ago

It’s World John Day still in London and I wanted to share a story for those who have the attention spans to read:

When I was about 14 years old, my Dad used to take me to work with him instead of having normal school holidays. While other kids got to sleep in late, I was hopping in the car before 6AM to drive to South Brisbane every morning.

And if you know my Dad, you know that he always has to be the first in the office and last to leave. So while office hours may have been at 9AM, John’s hours starts at 7AM. Like clockwork, John was sat reading emails at 7AM with a cup of coffee at his desk and leaving no earlier than 6:30PM.

Despite what should have felt like child labour, I really enjoyed it. My favourite part about this time were the long drives. I would always prepare a playlist and burn it onto a CD ready for the morning. Cruising to ‘Just the Two of Us’ while the sun greeted us on the motorway, I pestered him with random questions.

“Okay, we won the lotto. We’re rich. What’s the first thing you’d buy?” Not missing a beat, John responds, “A personalised number plate: 22VANU.”

I shot him a disgusted look. Surely bloody not. Why not a house? A car? A holiday?

I remember his answer so clearly. He may have been joking at the time but I really felt his answer. “I just want my last name on something I can see.”

xxii (22) vanu is nothing without our original Tutuvanu: John Galvani (iykyk) Tutuvanu. We dream wildly, pray and move our feet and dance under pressure because we watched him and our mother do the same throughout our whole lives.

After nearly 60 years of working, this Otara-hard ol’ boy decided to retire at the end of 2025. His work is done and now it’s our turn to carry this name with so much pride. So when you see our films with ‘xxiivanu’, just know that it’s because our Dad just wanted his last name on something.

- Liddy by @xxiivanu

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9 months ago

Our faleaoga had 2 principals; both strong matriarchs in their own aiga. One trail-blazed her way from Samoa on a ship in the 50’s to South Auckland, New Zealand. The other paved hers in music and performing arts in Samoa.

Therefore, it is without wonder and with profound joy that Tales of the Diaspora was predominantly female-led.

It led us all the way to the Queen’s House in London, United Kingdom. Where we showcased our short documentary for the very first time.

It was nerve-wracking. It was astounding.
Because we were met with pure unadulterated Pasefika euphoria. Pinnacled only with an all-female haka and a taualuga.

We like to think that our 2 principals, Akenese and Ta’atialeoitiiti were singing and dancing along with us.

We hope to take them along to one of the last screenings of what has been a highlight of our year; to the University of Western Sydney.

Sau ia! taken in The Queen's House by @xxiivanu

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a year ago

This time last year, I was wrapping up filming Tales of the Diaspora; a short documentary made with so much love.

I made this during such a turbulent time in my life and would even argue my most challenging. I had recently moved to London from Brisbane alone and was navigating what living out of home was like for the first time.

I was working two jobs and pulling insane hours just to pay rent. I would finish my first job at 3:15pm and scurry over to the next job at 4:30pm to finish around 1am just to wake up and repeat again at 5:30am. And somewhere in between that, I would slot in production meetings with my sister who is based in Melbourne.

When someone recently asked how I managed it all, my answer was simple: that little brown kid in the first photo. My resilience was built by her and the village she came from. Though I’ve been judged for not being “Samoan enough,” my family has always reminded me I am and has welcomed me home with open arms.

So while this film tells Johnny’s story, it is also mine. And I celebrate it with deep gratitude.

I also want to take this time to thank Johnny and her family for welcoming me into their home (even though I technically forced my way into it). They have poured as much love into this film as us Tutuvanu sisters. I know I have been truly blessed with some beautiful angels.

- Liddy taken in London, United Kingdom by @xxiivanu

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a year ago

Stills from “Tales of the Diaspora” by @xxiivanu

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a year ago

Thursday night we kicked off our 2025 season with an incredible honour - performing at the @xxiivanu screening of their debut project: Tales of the Diaspora.

This powerful short film was created as a love letter to Pasifika youth across the globe who navigate the often complex journey of maintaining their cultural identity while growing up outside of their ancestral homelands.

The themes woven throughout the film resonate deeply with us. Fenūsina Academy holds steadfast to the duty of preserving our stories. It is through this that we can safeguard our history, cultural knowledge and the spirit of our people. Sharing our stories, through any medium is to ensure the heartbeat of our heritage continues to echo through generations.

Tales of the Diaspora is a celebration — a tribute to our roots, our resilience, and our shared journey.
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📸: Ruta Fonoti by @xxiivanu

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a year ago