Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says he will be very proud as the flag is raised on Friday to mark 50 years of independence.
He says at the time independence was gained, he was at college and enthusiastically took part in celebratory marches himself.
But the Prime Minister says this year's event will be considerably larger:
"There were not so many people at the time, but this time it is big and much has changed, even the buildings, now much more modern and much better than what we had in those days."
Tuilaepa says the five days of festivities are costing a little over four million dollars
But he says the event had been budgeted for and also supported by donations.
