{{Short description|American Samoan journalist, press officer, TV and radio host, and producer}}{{Infobox person | name = Eti Saaga | birth_date = February 2, 1950 | birth_place = American Samoan | death_date = December 13, 2017 | occupation = poet, writer, journalist, press officer, television and radio host, and producer }} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} '''Eti Saaga''', also spelled '''Eti Sa'aga''', (February 2, 1950 – December 13, 2017) was a Samoan-born American Samoan poet, writer, journalist, press officer, television and radio host, and producer. His most well-known poem, "Me the Labourer", is studied as part of the curriculum at universities throughout Oceania, including Fiji, New Zealand, and his native Samoa.<ref name="rnzi">{{cite news|title=Samoan poet Eti Saaga dies aged 67 |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/347035/samoan-poet-eti-saaga-dies-aged-67 |work=Radio New Zealand International |date=December 27, 2017 |accessdate=January 1, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226225522/https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/347035/samoan-poet-eti-saaga-dies-aged-67 |archivedate=December 26, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="libaus" /><ref name="talanei">{{cite news|title="Me the Labourer" author Eti Sa'aga passes away |url=http://www.talanei.com/2017/12/20/me-the-labourer-author-eti-saaga-passes-away/ |work=Talanei |date=December 20, 2017 |accessdate=January 1, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229223744/http://www.talanei.com/2017/12/20/me-the-labourer-author-eti-saaga-passes-away/ |archivedate=December 29, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Saaga, who emigrating from Samoa to American Samoa in 1978, also served as a speech writer, press officer and translator for the late U.S. Congressman Eni Faleomavaega for more than 20 years.<ref name=rnzi/><ref name=libaus/>
Saaga was born on February 2, 1950, in Apia, Samoa.<ref name=libaus>{{cite news|title=Eti Sa'aga – Libraries Australia Authorities |url=https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=49783865 |work=National Library of Australia |accessdate=January 1, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101184917/https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=49783865 |archivedate=January 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1970, Saaga graduated from Samoa College, where he studied under Albert Wendt, an English teacher and novelist who was one of his greatest influences.<ref name=rnzi/><ref name=libaus/><ref name=talanei/> He did not accept a scholarship offer to study in New Zealand, choosing, instead to work as a road builder and labourer in Samoa.<ref name=rnzi/> During this time, Saaga wrote his most famous poem, "Me the Labourer", which is now taught at colleges and universities throughout Australia and the Pacific Islands.<ref name=rnzi/>
Saaga next worked as a journalist for the ''Samoa Times'', based in Apia, during the 1970s.<ref name=talanei/> In 1978, he emigrated to nearby American Samoa with his wife, Otilia Hunkin Saaga.<ref name=rnzi/><ref name=libaus/> He soon became a press officer for the American Samoan Department of Education.<ref name=rnzi/>
Saaga then worked for the late U.S. Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) for more than twenty years as a senior aide, press officer, speechwriter, and translator.<ref name=rnzi/> He also worked as a broadcaster and announcer for KSBS-FM Flag Day programming during this same era.<ref name=talanei/> Saaga died at the Kuakini Medical Centre in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 13, 2017, at the age of 67.<ref name=rnzi/><ref name=talanei/> He had been in declining health for the previous six years.<ref name=talanei/> He was predeceased by his wife, Otilia Hunkin Saaga, and survived by their four children.<ref name=rnzi/>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saaga, Eti}} Category:1950 births Category:2017 deaths Category:Samoan male poets Category:American Samoan poets Category:Samoan journalists Category:American speechwriters Category:American Samoan civil servants Category:Samoan emigrants to American Samoa Category:20th-century Samoan poets Category:21st-century Samoan poets Category:Oceanian poets