Loimata E Maligi

I first heard this song the other day when I watched Moana, an animated film set in ancient Polynesia. The film was great, but I was especially drawn to the song without knowing why. (It’s in a different language.)

I recommend playing the song before you read on.

The moment I heard it, I thought it was really beautiful. It struck a chord on my heart strings. When I searched about it, I realized exactly why it did.

The song was written as a tribute to 19 girls who lost their lives when a fire broke out in the Island of Vaitupu, Tuvalu in 2000. (Source)

“At about 11 p.m. on Thursday 8^th March 2000 a fire broke out in one of the dormitories for girls at the mixed-sex Motufoua Secondary School on the island of Vaitupu in Tuvalu. It was thought to have started from a naked candle that a girl held under her blanket as she was doing extra revision for a class examination that was to be held the next day. The conflagration spread rapidly and caused the Matron and 18 of the residents to be burned to death. Eighteen other girls escaped the inferno, only three of whom suffered burns. Its traumatic effects on the total Tuvalu population of about 10 000 was widespread, and said to be in proportion to the immediate loss of either 8 000 New Zealanders or 25 000 Australians in any one calamity in their respective countries. The response of the Tuvalu Government was to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the causes of the fire, and to seek the help of a trauma consultant from New Zealand in dealing with the human aspects of the aftermath.”  (Source)

(Screenshot of lyrics from tevaka.com)

It’s amazing how music can speak to us in a universal language we can all understand. When I read the English translation of the lyrics, it made perfect sense.

It’s a song of sadness, comfort, and healing. It’s reminding us that it’s alright to cry when we are in pain, for healing comes along with it.

There are times when everything is just so overwhelming. We lose our jobs, our business crashes, our hearts break, loved ones pass away. We face mistakes, regrets, and monsters from our past. We worry about our future and wonder if there’s any hope for brighter days. We fight to get a grip on a life that feels like it’s falling apart.

Don’t give up. Feel the pain, and become a stronger version of yourself.

Let the tears fall down, and let the healing flow over you.

Revelation 21:4

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”