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The life of Robert Louis Stevenson is commemorated in Samoa in December each year. The popular Scottish poet and storyteller, essayist and novelist who died in Samoa is still acknowledged today. Fondly remembered by the people of Samoa as the beloved ‘tusitala’ or teller of tales.
His devotion to literature is reflected in his popular story ‘Treasure Island’, and many of his other writings. The pioneering work of this popular storyteller has broadcast to the world tales of the islands in the South Pacific and how culture and way of life form a paradigm in the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
Robert Louis Stevenson died in Samoa in 1894 after suffering from extreme illness. His adventure stories and a full range of travel writings still remain popular today. The publication continually succeeds as a literature study basis of a lot of secondary and tertiary institutions. There is a growing recognition
regarding his works and what he wrote in the past as a modern exploration for today’s generation.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s visit to Samoa was for health reasons that
forced him to leave his homeland and find a more
peaceful and warmer climate in the exotic locales of the Pacific. He
wrote about his voyage towards
the South Pacific and later discovered Samoa and continued to write
about the
traditions and culture of the South Pacific that contradicted the
standards of his Scottish upbringing. He responded to the island way of
life and this influenced the subject matter of his writings.
His popular writings are everywhere in the world while his body remains on top of Mount Vaea that overlooks the beauty of Apia (the capital of Samoa). The house that he used to reside in at Vailima is now used as a museum for tourists and for locals who wish to discover and know more about his life as an author. A lot of objects in the house are restored and serve as fond memories of Stevenson and his family.
The big house at Vailima was used as a residency for the Government
Head of State - Malietoa Tanumafili II,
and later on turned into a museum as it has a deeper meaning and people
are drawn from all over
the world to research and to experience in their own eyes the life of
Stevenson in Samoa. His great contribution to Samoa through literature
is still acknowledged today and a special service for Stevenson takes
place every year at this time. It is a moment to commemorate other
writers as well for their effort and strength in writing about Samoa as
a small island paradise unknown by many in the world.
A service is held each year at the Vailima homestead and this year, was
held on the 3rd of December to celebrate the anniversary of his death.
Stevenson was considered to be one of the greatest English writers,
with a vast collection of writings about his journey around the world
and his experiences of what he encountered during his life.
The Vailima homestead is open to the public between 9am and 4pm,
Tuesday to Friday, and 9am to noon on Saturday. Guided tours can be
arranged.
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