A wedding fusion of Assyria and Samoa

By Sapeer Mayron 17 August 2018, 12:00AM

In what may have been a nation first, Apia was witness to a wedding combining two diverse cultures – Assyrian and Samoan.

The couple, Bonnie and Grey Viane, tied the knot last Saturday at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral followed by a reception at Taumeasina Resort in a mix of cultural traditions.

Bonnie is Assyrian, part of an ethnic group from present-day Iraq, and Grey is Samoan.

The two were raised in Sydney, Australia, and said their wedding was an opportunity to deep dive into their cultures and celebrate them.

“It’s hard to stay true to culture when the influence of other cultures, of Australian culture is just so big,” Bonnie said.

“On our wedding day we wanted to be true to who our parents were and that set a foundation of who we are going to be as parents.”

The integration of their two cultures into a seamless wedding was a learning process for them both, as they dug into traditions they did not necessarily learn about when growing up.

Grey said the more they incorporated, the more pride they felt.

“Bonnie and I always remember where we are from and remember our roots.  It was important to us to bring it together and incorporate the Assyrian tradition of bringing the bride out of the house when she’s going to marry, and bringing Samoan culture of wearing our Ie Faitaga.”

 The wedding festivities began with the Assyrian tradition of the groom’s family picking up the bride, who will not be released to the groom’s family until the families negotiate a price.

“That’s what we did here at the Taumeasina, there was a big hoohaa where my brothers and my dad stood at the door negotiating with his family,” said Bonnie.

They then travelled to the church, where the service was conducted fully in Samoan, and included the Samoan tradition of ifoga.

The couple had a fine mat placed over their head and a blessing said over them. 

“There are no words to explain how we felt when they were doing that,” said Grey.

Following the ceremony, the wedding party travelled in three classic Samoan buses to Grey’s father’s village in Poutasi Faleili to take memorable photos. 

Back at Taumeasina Resort, the families were met by the Assur Kings drumming group from Sydney, who performed traditional Assyrian music to the beat of handmade drums.

The wedding party danced with Assyrian Yalekhta, beaded scarfs with bells which add noise and delight to the dancing.

“Assyrians are always holding or waving something, it’s all about the noise they make with their bells.” 

Grey said the noise making from the Yalekhta and the drums was so fun for the Samoan half of the family that on arrival for photos at Poutasi, the family greeted them by banging on pots and pans.

“They see us banging drums and here they are banging pots and pans!”

The groom’s party wore traditional Samoan Ie Faitaga, and the bride’s family wore Assyrian garb.

Bonnie and Grey’s families joined their celebrations here in Samoa, but unfortunately Grey’s father, Lupeomanu Faaoli Fata Vaegaau Viane, passed away in 2011.

Grey said it was always his father’s dream to see his son marry, and so having the celebrations in Samoa brought them closer to him.

When they picked the wedding date, they had no idea it would be Father’s Day here.

“It just tied us back to Grey’s dad and I get goosebumps just talking about it,” said Bonnie.

“Having the wedding on Father’s Day just meant he was with us the whole time.”

By Sapeer Mayron 17 August 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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