Samoan love song makes history at the 2026 Silver Scroll Awards
The neo-psychedelia group LEAO has won New Zealand's prestigious APRA Silver Scroll award for their song 'LALELEI', the first song written entirely in Gagana Samoa to win the prize. The song serves as a tribute to Samoan culture and the diaspora.
Why it matters
This marks a significant cultural milestone for Samoan language and representation in the New Zealand music industry.
LALELEI, meaning ‘beautiful’, marks the first time a song written entirely in Gagana Samoa has won New Zealand’s most prestigious songwriting award.
RNZ Digital reporters 14 October 2026 4 min read Caption: LEAO, winners of the 2026 APRA Silver Scroll Award. Photo credit: Supplied A song celebrating ‘aiga ma atunu’u’ (family and homeland) and capturing themes of distance, yearning and commitment to the fa’asamoa (the ‘Samoan way’) won New Zealand’s top songwriting award in Auckland on Wednesday night.
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