By Hibiscus Tupua-Wilson
Navigating the vā of womanhood as a fa’afafine.
As part of our He Toi Hou programme, Kia Mau Festival presents this raw and resonant work, WTF: What The Fa’afafine!?! What does it really mean to be fa’afafine? To be proudly trans and Samoan in a world that often misunderstands both?
WTF: What The Fa’afafine!?! is a devised theatre piece that navigates the vā of womanhood as a fa’afafine. Exploring and discovering the different cultural and social vā of identites; what does it mean to be a fa’afafine versus identifying as a trans woman? Bridging the narative through open talanoa, shared experiences and different art forms..
Written and performed by a powerful ensemble of fa’afafine and queer Pacific voices, this is a deeply personal story about navigating cultural and gendered expectations, about the strength it takes to question everything you’ve been taught, and the courage it takes to embrace all that you are. WTF: What The Fa’afafine!?! is directed by Hibiscus Tupua-Wilson.
Through humour, honesty, and heartbreak, WTF is both celebration and confrontation—a reclamation of space, voice, and fa’afafine identity.
Content warning includes an M-Rated, contains coarse language, loud music, bright/strobe lighting, and discussions of mental health.
He Toi Hou brings together the most innovative and thought-provoking contemporary Indigenous arts. This pou is a testament to the spirit of creation and offers a space for fresh, dynamic works to make their debut, allowing audiences to experience the raw power and authenticity of new voices or old voices in new ways.
Creative Credits
Director, Co-Writer & Actor Hibiscus Tupua-Wilson (she/her)
Producer Zalán Orbán
Photographer, Videographer & Social media Junior Cikamatana (he/him)
Actor & Co-Writer Kiwi Rameka (she/her)
Actor & Co-Writer K-Ci Hegigie (she/her)
Actor & Co-Writer Toloa Faraimo (he/him)
Tihei mauri ora!
Ka mihi ki ngā uri o te whenua o Te Upoko o te ika a Māui.
E ngā haukāinga o te rohe nei, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Taranaki Whānui,
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa!
Kia Mau Festival is at the forefront of contemporary Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous theatre and dance in Aotearoa and beyond. We are innovators—pushing boundaries, redefining forms, and forging new paths with creative risk-taking at every step. Right here, right now, we bring together local, national, and international artists in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. We find the intersection where our stories intertwine, creating an experience that is uniquely ‘local’ yet unparalleled in Pōneke throughout the year.
Kia Mau offers a truly unique experience, led by Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous voices at every level—from our leadership to our artists and audiences. Unlike any other festival, we are not just a platform for presentations; we are a hub for kōrero and whanaungatanga.
Our festival serves as a whare where Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists and their communities are supported throughout the creation, development, and staging of their works. By providing a nurturing environment, we empower individual artists, strengthen their capabilities, and enrich the arts sector, celebrating the diversity and talent of Tāngata Whenua, Tāngata Moana, and Indigenous artists.
With our deep understanding of the arts sector and strong relationships with artists from emerging talents to established figures, we identify those at pivotal moments in their careers or with significant projects. By including them in the Kia Mau Festival programme, we support them in taking strategic steps forward. This approach has allowed Kia Mau Festival to make a substantial impact on numerous artists and, consequently, shape the contemporary arts landscape.
Returning to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui, Aotearoa New Zealand from 30 May – 14 June 2025. Nau mai, haramai! Nau mai, hoki mai ki te hui ahurei o Kia Mau!
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