Tigafua was a recipient of the Creative New Zealand Arts Pasifika Award for Emerging Artist in 2017.
Tigafua is of Samoan descent with links to Safa’ato’a, Lefaga and Faleū, Manono.
Tigafua's first attempt to transition to contemporary dance resulted in not completing studies at Unitec.
The company's work was based primarily in Berlin centred around stories of immigrants who lived in the city.
In 2012 he joined The New Zealand Dance Company and four years later, Tigafua made the decision to continue as an independent choreographer and dancer.