Nifo oti
Also known as: nifoʻoti
A Samoan war club with a serrated edge of shark teeth, from whose display, ailao, today's fire-knife dance siva afi grew.
Quick Facts
About the weapon
Nifo oti is a traditional Samoan war club with a serrated edge. According to the source, the training of toa warriors in close combat with this weapon developed between 900 and 1200 CE. The common translation "tooth of death" is, according to the source, mistaken; the name most likely comes from the resemblance of the weapon's hook to the curved horn (nifo) of a goat (ʻoti). Teeth of sharks, sawfish, swordfish and other marine animals were set into the wooden club. The characteristic metal hook appeared only later: European and American whalers and traders brought long-handled whale-blubber knives and hooked cane knives to Samoa, and the Samoans transferred their hook onto the wooden nifo oti. Out of combat grew ailao, a showy display of a warrior's skill, in which the club was spun, tossed, caught and danced with. Ailao was also performed by women, mainly the daughters of high chiefs, at the head of ceremonial processions. The source also describes a clash with Tongans, in which Samoan warriors wrapped both ends of the weapon with dry palm fibre and set them alight. Out of ailao grew today's fire-knife dance siva afi; dancers in American Samoa use knives made from machetes, often blunted for younger dancers.