Olivia is a Hero!
]
Olivia Foa'i is a hero! She understood that her peoples' languages were under threat, people have to do something to revive them, and she took responsibility to do her own bit.
Today Olivia is one of the most prominent figures in a wider movement across the Pacific to revive indigenous languages through songs. To quote this article from the Guardian: "Musicians hope to rebuild languages that had previously been in slow decline and provide a source of connection for culturally isolated communities. They are part of a resurgent focus throughout the Pacific on the threats that indigenous languages face..."
A researcher says, "Many Pacific languages – of which there are more than 1,200 – are now 'acutely threatened', both in the diaspora and in their home countries, because English remains 'the prestigious language of opportunity'. Popular music is believed to be a 'powerful tool' in the revitalisation of Pacific languages, largely because music that integrates indigenous language 'provokes in people the feeling that the language is for them'.
Notice the similarity to situation of Indic languages and scripts. Paraphrasing Rozoff, "Each man is an island unto himself" and he needs to preserve his languages...