page_title: Faʻamatai
section_title: Matai selection
hierarchical_section_title: Faʻamatai / Matai selection
caption_attribution_description: English: 3 Samoan girls making ava 1909
context_page_description: Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society. It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the both Samoas, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa. The term comprises the prefix fa'a and the word matai.
  Of central importance in the system are the matai, the holders of family chief titles, and their role in looking after their family. Fa'amatai is the key socio-political system of governance and way of life in Samoan culture. Inherent in the fa'amatai system is the welfare and well-being of the extended family and the protection of family property, consisting most importantly of customary land.
  At the apex of this system are the four major title holders – Tupua Tamasese, Malietoa, Mata'afa, Tuimaleali'ifano - known as the Tama-a-Aiga that afford them leadership over the royal families of Samoa. All heads of state of Samoa have been one of the four title holders. In addition, these four paramount chiefs are often accorded pāpā titles - titles that indicate sovereignty or leadership over a designated territory or kinship network. These titles are Tui Atua, Tui A'ana, Gatoaitele and Vaetamasoalii.
context_section_description: In effect, every Samoan, men and women, is an heir to a matai title pertaining to their kinship and ancestry. However, matai titles are not automatically passed from a matai to their children or direct descendants but are bestowed upon those whom the extended family agree will best serve their needs while also ensuring that different branches of the family are represented. A recent example of this Samoan custom and law is the stripping of the important Malietoa title from the son of the previous title holder, the late Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II (1913–2007). Following Malietoa Tanumafili II's death in 2007, one branch of the family bestowed the title upon his son Papali'i Fa'amausili Moli in the village of Malie. The other branches of the family filed petitions at the Samoa Land and Titles Court claiming the bestowal invalid in breach of Samoan law. In June 2008, the court agreed and ruled the bestowal of the Malietoa title upon the son illegal, highlighting the unique nature of matai selection based on consensus, merit, custom and due process rather than automatic hereditary selection. Other cultural factors can also play a part in the complex decision making process including seniority in age (an important factor in Samoan society), leadership qualities, oratory and an individual's ability to contribute to the family's overall circumstances and well-being.
caption: Young Samoan women preparing 'ava, 1909
exif: {"Image ImageDescription": "My trip to Samoa (1911) -  3 Samoan girls making ava 1909.", "Image Make": "Bartlett Tripp", "Image Model": "University of California Libraries", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72009/1000", "Image YResolution": "72009/1000", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "Adobe Photoshop", "Image DateTime": "2012:08:07 18:10:58", "Image Artist": "Tripp, Bartlett, 1842-1911", "Image Copyright": "http://archive.org/details/mytriptosamoa00triprich", "Image ExifOffset": "402", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "1909", "EXIF ColorSpace": "Uncalibrated", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "2164", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "1410"}