Malietoa Tanumafili II
Malietoa Tanumafili II (4 January 1913 – 11 May 2007), addressed Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, was the Malietoa, the title of one of Samoa's four paramount chiefs, and the head of state, or "O le Ao o le Malo", a position that he held for life, of Samoa from 1962 to 2007. He was co-head of state in 1962 with the "tama-a-'aiga" Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole and became the sole head of state on 15 April 1963 upon the death of his counterpart. At the time of his death, he was the oldest national leader in  the world, and was also the last incumbent president-for-life in the world. His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II was also the first head of state to be a follower of the Baha'i Faith. The Malietoa is one of the four "tama-a-'aiga" (maximal lineage) titles of Samoa, alongside Tupua Tamasese, Mata-afa and Tuimalealiifano. Following an extended period deliberation, the Malietoa title passed to his eldest son, Malietoa Fa’amausili Molī. Early and personal life. His Highness was born in 4 January 1913 as the son and third child of his parents, Malietoa Tanumafili I and Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea. He  was chosen as the Mālietoa in 1940 following his father's death on 5 July 1939. Tanumafili was educated at the government run Leififi School in Samoa. He went on to enroll at St. Stephen's School and Wesley College in Pukekohe, both of which are in New Zealand. Malietoa was an active athlete during his younger years. His favourite sports included boxing, rugby and cricket. Malietoa's interest in sports continued throughout his life and he was an avid golfer well into his 90s. He could often be seen driving his golf cart around Samoa. His wife, Lili Tunu , died in 1986. Tanumafili had eleven children during his life: Sua Vainuupo, Afioga Malietoa Papaliitele Faamausili Molī (the current holder of the Malietoa title), Papaliitele Titiuatoa, Papaliitele Ioane, Papaliitele Douglas (sons) and Seiuli Tutai, Lola Tosi and Momoe (daughters). One child died in infancy, while two of his sons, Papalii Laupepa and Papaliitele Eti, died in 1985 and 2005 respectively. At the time of his death, he had four surviving children - two sons and two daughters. Malietoa Tanumafili II was a follower of the Baháʼí Faith. He was the first President and the first serving head of state to be  a member of that religion. The Baháʼí House of Worship in Tiapapata, eight kilometres from the country's capital of Apia, was dedicated by him in 1984. Public life. Tanumafili officially inherited the royal title of Malietoa in 1940, following the 1939 death of his father, Malietoa Tanumafili I, though some media reports claim that he received the title of Malietoa in 1939. Soon after becoming Malietoa, he was appointed to serve as a special adviser, also called "Fautua", to the New Zealand administration and governor of Samoa, known as the New Zealand Trusteeship of Samoa, until independence in 1962 . Chiefdom of State. Upon Samoa's independence in 1962, Malietoa Tanumafili II became O le Ao o le Malo, or head of state for a lifetime term, jointly with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole. Tanumafili and Mea'ole would serve jointly as head of state for just 16 months. When Mea'ole died in 1963, Tanumafili became the sole head of state, a post he held for life until his death in 2007. He is often credited for providing much of the stability that Samoa has enjoyed post independence. Malietoa travelled extensively during his term as O le Ao o le Malo. He travelled  to the People's Republic of China for an official state visit in 1976. Additionally, during his term he also visited Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the former West Germany. Malietoa Tanumafili was among the foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral of Japanese Emperor Showa in 1989. Malietoa Tanumafili II was described as the last survivor of a generation of important Pacific leaders who guided their countries and peoples from colonialism to independence. His death was the latest in a string of recent, high-profile passings of members of this Pacific generation  of leaders, which included Fijian Prime Minister and later President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the King of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, and New Zealand's Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu. Death. Malietoa Tanumafili II died at 18:45 on Friday 11 May 2007, at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital at Motoʻotua in Apia, Samoa. He was being treated as a patient for pneumonia at the hospital for approximately a week. The cause of his death was from a heart attack. His death was announced by Samoan Secretary of State Vaasatia Poloma Komiti on SBC TV1. "It is with deepest regret  that we inform you of the passing of our Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II." Malietoa Tanumafili II was the world's third longest serving living head of state at the time of his death in May 2007 after Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned from 1946 until his death in 2016 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 1952, as well as the longest serving incumbent "President" (succeeded by Gabon's Omar Bongo). Funeral. Samoa entered a state of official mourning from the time of the Malietoa's death until his official funeral. All Samoan  flags were lowered to half mast in his honour and remembrance. According to tradition, thousands of Samoans were expected to wear white and black as a sign of respect for the Malietoa from 15 May until his state funeral on 18 May. The government of Samoa encouraged traditional Samoan dress for the funeral. Samoans were requested specifically to wear "a black lavalava or sulu and a white top with traditional elei patterns." Samoans were also asked to include the teuila flower, the national flower of Samoa, with their mourning attire. Malietoa Tanumafili II's body was taken from a private  funeral home (Ligaliga Funeral) to his residence at Fa'ato'ialemanu on 16 May, which marked the beginning of his funeral services. Hundreds of the Malietoa's close and extended relatives, including his children, attended a special private family service that night. The state funeral was a rare occasion when ancient rituals and exchanges were made to the Sa Malietoa (one of national political 'families’ or clans from which the Malietoa title belongs). Traditional cultural presentations (or Si'i Fa'atupu) from other districts and clans from within Samoa were made and ancient funeral rites were performed. The delegation (or "auala") from Lufilufi and  Falefa, representing the Tui Atua, circled the maota of Malietoa at Faatoialemanu where the late Malietoa lay in state, chanting the ancient funeral chants associated with the district of Atua (where the Tui Atua is the paramount "papa" title) and its relationship with the district of Tuamasaga (where the Malietoa is the paramount title). Traditional delegations representing the Tongan Royal Family and the Fijian Great Council of Chiefs also made cultural presentations to reflect the ancient genealogical ties between Samoa and her southern neighbours Tonga and Fiji. The major village of the Malietoa title, Malie, played a major role in  funeral ceremonies and exchanges. The 'aumaga (untitled men) of Malie, called the Aumaga a Laauli, and the 'aumaga (untitled men) of Falealili, called the Manu Samoa, provided hundreds of traditional guards in and around the compounds where the Malietoa lay in state. They also patrolled the roads around Faatoialemanu and provided escorting duties whenever the body was moved. On the day of the funeral the grounds of Tiafau Malae where the funeral was held were guarded by 300 men of the Aumaga a Laauli. Presiding over the body was the Salelesi (the ancient herald or 'dog' of the Malietoa and  Tupua Tamasese), from the village of Salelesi (District of Atua). His role is to guard the body, herald its presence and escort it into the tomb. All villages in the District of Tuamasaga and other villages connected to the Malietoa title cut palm leaves and branches of hundreds of coconut trees and laid them by the side of main roads in an ancient mark of mourning for the death of a paramount chief. The Malietoa's body was then moved to the Samoan Parliament to lie in state on 17 May. His funeral was held on 18 May in Apia . International reaction. – Queen Elizabeth II stated: "I have learned with great sadness of the death of His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II. I recall with pleasure my visit to Samoa, with Prince Philip, in 1977. I could see then the great affection and respect which the people of Samoa felt for him, earned by a long record of service to his nation. His Highness's passing will be mourned widely throughout the Commonwealth. Prince Philip joins me in sending our condolences to the Samoan people." Honours. Queen Elizabeth II visited Samoa for a single day in 1977 as part of her  visit to the South Pacific on board the Royal Yacht "Britannia". While in Samoa, Elizabeth presented Malietoa with the Collar Badge and Star of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. Also bestowed on Malietoa was the title of Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire during his life.