Tuvalu Proverbs (9)

Tuvalu mo te Atua.

“Tuvalu for the Almighty.”

The national motto of Tuvalu, expressing the nation's foundation on deep religious faith and its dependence on a higher power for protection and guidance.

“Eight standing together.”

The literal meaning of the name "Tuvalu," referring to the eight traditionally inhabited coral atolls that united to form the nation; a ninth island, Niulakita, was settled later.

Tefolaha, tou hoa!

“Tefolaha, my friend!”

A libation phrase spoken by the people of Nanumea while pouring the last of a drink onto the ground, honoring their founding ancestor-spirit Tefolaha and invoking his continued protection.

“The beauty in the Pacific lies in the unity of hearts.”

A line from the Tuvaluan fatele song "A galiga o fenua," calling on people to put their efforts together for the things their community and their ocean environment need.

“Kaitasi: the land, the decisions, and the harvest belong to all of us together.”

The Tuvaluan value of kaitasi, or shared ownership — land, resources, and decision-making are held communally among family and community rather than as individual property.

“Alofa is caring for those who have no land of their own.”

Alofa (love, compassion) obliges Tuvaluans to look after community members without land or family able to fish and farm for them, extending even to outsiders in need.

“Climate change is the single greatest challenge facing my country. It is threatening the livelihood, security and wellbeing of all Tuvaluans.”

Delivered as part of Tuvalu's national statement to the UN climate conference, framing rising seas as an existential threat rather than a distant environmental issue.

“We cannot wait for the speeches when the sea is rising around us all the time. Climate mobility must come to the forefront. We must take bold alternative action today to secure tomorrow.”

Delivered as part of Kofe's COP26 video address, filmed with him standing knee-deep in the sea off Funafuti to dramatize Tuvalu's exposure to sea-level rise.

“The grave injustice or irony of the threat of climate change is that climate change is not of our making, but it will certainly remake us.”

A reflection on climate justice made in the context of the Falepili Union treaty negotiations, capturing Tuvalu's position that it bears almost no responsibility for a crisis that could remake or erase its territory.