A poem and song for the People’s Forum at CHOGM

Sāmoa Prime Minister Afioga Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa’s message to the People’s Forum on day one of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was supported by University of Auckland academic and poet Professor Selina Tusitala Marsh leading delegates with a sing-along. 

The People’s Forum 2024, organised by the Commonwealth Foundation in collaboration with the Sāmoan Government, is a two-day event being held at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in downtown Apia. It will focus on exploring urgent issues of the day – climate justice, health justice and freedom of expression - while centring the plight of small and vulnerable states, women and young people. 

Commonwealth dignitaries and delegates have arrived in Sāmoa to celebrate shared values, interact with leaders, participate in shaping both policy and practice. Professor Selina Marsh ONZM FRSNZ is a co-host. 

Professor Marsh lit up the opening of the event with a new poem chorusing a wish list of the People’s Forum, using a well-known Christmas tune that required audience participation.

“It is my honour and privilege to be one of your MCs today,” said the event co-host, thanking Prime Minister Mata’afa for her opening address.

She told the audience about being a professor at the University, teaching Pacific literature and stories from Oceania. 

“I also teach creative writing and I am a poet, it’s a dangerous thing in these times,” she told the audience of around 200 who responded enthusiastically. 

“The reason I am a poet is because I cannot sing,” she apologised before going on to sing beautifully while directing the audience to join in with her.

Marsh says the idea of the poem came to her while in the shower and the combined performance helped set the tone for day one. She is co-hosting the event with Jamaican media personality Terri-Karelle Johnson. 

Prime Minister Mata’afa focused her opening address on climate change and resilience; and the global challenges that require global solidarity and discussion with civil society leaders to lay the groundwork for deeper discussion. 

“I’m delighted to see we continue to build on the momentum here in Apia; it’s all about 2.4 billion of our citizens,” she reiterated about the issues of climate justice and health justice, that resonate across the Commonwealth’s five regions. 

“Climate justice is an existential crisis. Our resilience in the face of rising seas and extreme weather events, coming face to face with health and climate justice, climate displacement, our people's well-being and the planet’s future are interconnected… we need to find solutions that address all.” 

She says it was important to push for these things and to turn attention how to protect the most vulnerable, the young, elderly, those with disabilities, those on the margins as inclusivity was not optional. The Prime Minister emphasised it remained an uphill battle financing resources, but the Commonwealth is not powerless, that through cross national partnerships, it could encourage members to do more. 

“Let us be fearless in our discussion, united in our purpose, challenge and learn from one another, build a Commonwealth that is resilient, inclusive and just, for all of us and future generations.”