Polynesia represented at the opening of the exhibition Oceania in London

MIL OSI Translation. French Polynesian to English –

Source: Government of French Polynesia

A delegation polynesian, composed of the minister of Culture, Heremoana Maamaatuaiahutapu, mp Maina Sage, the director of the Museum of Tahiti and islands, Miriama Bono, and Gypsy Lehartel, attended, Monday, for the “Blessing ceremony” of the exhibition Oceania at the Royal Academy in London.

This event was attended by the delegations of New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, Cook islands, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea and Tahiti. This ceremony, organized by the Embassy of New Zealand in London, has thus allowed the 200 representatives present to organise a procession in Piccadilly Street up to the Royal Academy, where a host maori and dances of the different communities welcomed the delegations.

A group of fifty people, including the delegation polynesian, was then able to penetrate in the exhibition where more than 200 pieces, including fifteen from French Polynesia, are presented, in homage to the voyage of Cook. Among the pieces polynesian, it should be noted the presence of the god a’a, a native of the Southern, or Rao, of Mangareva, as well as a drawing by Tupaia, who accompanied captain Cook on his first voyage.

The delegation polynesian closed this morning by an address by the minister of culture, who has presented to the president of the Royal Academy, a Tifaifai, recalling that the English missionaries who have transmitted this knowledge to the Polynesian, and that since it is reinterpreted. Subsequently, Tuarii Tracqui and Tahia Cambret have performed a dance duet in the living rooms of the british institution.

On Tuesday evening, the delegation polynesian was also present for the cocktail official opening of the exhibition, where 750 people were expected, and during which the delegation has distinguished itself by offering a delivery of two polynesian dancers that has been noticed.

In the margin of the exhibition, the delegations were able to exchange during a meeting at the embassy of New Zealand, where the minister of Culture was received by the minister of New Zealand in charge of Culture and of the relations with the countries of the Pacific, Carmel Sepuloni, as well as the ambassadors of Tonga, Fiji, the Cook islands, and Papua New Guinea. At this meeting, the countries represented have called for a broader cooperation, including cultural, between countries of the Pacific.

The minister of Culture and two representatives of the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands have taken advantage of this trip to meet with Stéphane Martin, president of Quai Branly, and the collections managers of the pacific at the British Museum, to discuss with them loans of collections to prepare for the reopening of the hall of the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands.

These interviews have been successful, and the director of the Museum has secured agreements in principle for the loan of objects of the two institutions by 2021. Discussions will be pursued with these two museum institutions, to specify the terms and conditions of the loans mentioned.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Please forgive us should the grammar and/or sentence structure is not be perfect.