Group (seated, wearing white) with Wilhelm Solf, New Zealand parliamentarian Charles H. Mills and paramount chief Matā'afa Iosefo during a visit by Mills to Samoa, 1903. Matā'afa is one of the four paramount tama-a-'aiga (maximal lineage) titles of Samoa. Tradition versus democracy in the South Pacific: Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa by Stephanie Lawson, p. 146 It is one of two such titles originating from the Atua district at the east end of Upolu island (the other being Tupua Tamasese of Falefa & Salani) and has its historical seat in the village of Amaile. Prominent holders of the title include Matā'afa Iosefo of Falefa, one of the three rival candidates for the kingship of Samoa during the early colonial period, Matā'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I (died 1948) of Lepea and Lotofaga, who became leader of Samoa's pro-independence Mau movement after Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III's assassination; and his son Fiame Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II (1921–1975), the first Prime Minister of Samoa. The title was then passed on to Matā'afa Fa'asuamaleaui Pu'ela Patu. After his death in 1997, the title fell vacant and remains so to this day. Origins of the Matā'afa The beginnings of the tama-a-'aiga Matā'afa lineage is traced through to Queen Salamasina. Her granddaughter Taufau sired Tupuivao who founded the line which resides in Amaile. The lineage branches off in later years with the title's ancestor Luafalemana, the son of King Tupua Fuiavailili and Punipuao, daughter of Alai'asā of Falefa. Luafalemana married Gese and together had a daughter, Salaina'oloa. Having been issued and raised by 'Aiga Sā Fenunuivao (descendants of Fenunuivao), she married Tuimavave (also known as Tauili'ili) of 'Aiga Sā Levālasi (descendants of Levalasi). The union of these two lines issued the first line of the Matā'afa titleholders, Fa'asuamale'aui, in 1785. Tuimavave's other union with Letelesā issued another line of the title, Silupevailei. Both Fa'asuamale'aui and Silupevailei are the two lines of descent from whom the Matā'afa is selected. Family traditions differ as to who was the first Matā'afa , but the majority of opinions favour either Filifilisounu'u , son of Fa'asuamale'aui or Tafagamanu, son of Filifilisounu'u . Either way, it is the line of Fa'asuamale'aui that began and carried the title from its inception until 1948, when the title passed to the Silupevailei line. After subsequent appeals before the Lands & Titles Court, the title returned to Fa'asuamale'aui' s line upon the death of former Prime Minister Fiame Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II, when it was bestowed on Matā'afa Puela Fa’asuamale’aui Patu who held it until his passing in 1997. The title remains vacant to this day. Authority Like the Tupua Tamasese title, the Matā'afa titleholder is selected by its primary political family and heirs. The title is held in custodianship by the Aiga Sā Levālasi, named after Levalasi, Queen Salamasina's adoptive mother. Ownership of the title was confirmed in 1939, where it was decided that Aiga Sā Levālasi would select who would hold the Matā'afa title from the heirs at Anapapa, the Matā'afa's appurtenant maota (seat of residence) in the village of Amaile. Once they have made their selection, the Aiga Sa Tago are informed. The Aiga's main branches are in Amaile and Lotofaga as well as the family Satago. The head of Aiga Sā Levālasi is the Fiame titleholder of Lotofaga, currently held by Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Matā'afa .
Group (seated, wearing white) with Wilhelm Solf, New Zealand parliamentarian Charles H. Mills and paramount chief Matā'afa Iosefo during a visit by Mills to Samoa, 1903. Matāafa is one of the four paramount tama-a-aiga (maximal lineage) titles of Samoa. Tradition versus democracy in the South Pacific: Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa by Stephanie Lawson, p. 146 It is one of two such titles originating from the Atua district at the east end of Upolu island (the other being Tupua Tamasese of Falefa & Salani) and has its historical seat in the village of Amaile. Prominent holders of the title include Matāafa Iosefo of Falefa, one of the three rival candidates for the kingship of Samoa during the early colonial period, Matāafa Faumuina Fiame Mulinuu I (died 1948) of Lepea and Lotofaga, who became leader of Samoa's pro-independence Mau movement after Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III's assassination; and his son Fiame Matāafa Faumuina Mulinuu II (1921–1975), the first Prime Minister of Samoa. The title was then passed on to Matāafa Faasuamaleaui Puela Patu. After his death in 1997, the title fell vacant and remains so to this day. Origins of the Matāafa The beginnings of the tama-a-aiga Matāafa lineage is traced through to Queen Salamasina. Her granddaughter Taufau sired Tupuivao who founded the line which resides in Amaile. The lineage branches off in later years with the title's ancestor Luafalemana, the son of King Tupua Fuiavailili and Punipuao, daughter of Alai'asā of Falefa. Luafalemana married Gese and together had a daughter, Salaina'oloa. Having been issued and raised by 'Aiga Sā Fenunuivao (descendants of Fenunuivao), she married Tuimavave (also known as Tauili'ili) of 'Aiga Sā Levālasi (descendants of Levalasi). The union of these two lines issued the first line of the Matā'afa titleholders, Fa'asuamale'aui, in 1785. Tuimavave's other union with Letelesā issued another line of the title, Silupevailei. Both Fa'asuamale'aui and Silupevailei are the two lines of descent from whom the Matā'afa is selected. Family traditions differ as to who was the first Matāafa , but the majority of opinions favour either Filifilisounuu , son of Faasuamaleaui or Tafagamanu, son of Filifilisounuu . Either way, it is the line of Faasuamaleaui that began and carried the title from its inception until 1948, when the title passed to the Silupevailei line. After subsequent appeals before the Lands & Titles Court, the title returned to Faasuamaleaui' s line upon the death of former Prime Minister Fiame Matāafa Faumuina Mulinuu II, when it was bestowed on Matā'afa Puela Faasuamaleaui Patu who held it until his passing in 1997. The title remains vacant to this day. Authority Like the Tupua Tamasese title, the Matāafa titleholder is selected by its primary political family and heirs. The title is held in custodianship by the Aiga Sā Levālasi, named after Levalasi, Queen Salamasina's adoptive mother. Ownership of the title was confirmed in 1939, where it was decided that Aiga Sā Levālasi would select who would hold the Matā'afa title from the heirs at Anapapa, the Matā'afa's appurtenant maota (seat of residence) in the village of Amaile. Once they have made their selection, the Aiga Sa Tago are informed. The Aiga's main branches are in Amaile and Lotofaga as well as the family Satago. The head of Aiga Sā Levālasi is the Fiame titleholder of Lotofaga, currently held by Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Matāafa .
R
Matā'afa
Matāafa
R
tama-a-'aiga
tama-a-aiga
R
Matā'afa
Matāafa
R
Matā'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u
Matāafa Faumuina Fiame Mulinuu
R
Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u
Matāafa Faumuina Mulinuu
R
Matā'afa Fa'asuamaleaui Pu'ela
Matāafa Faasuamaleaui Puela
R
Matā'afa
Matāafa
R
tama-a-'aiga Matā'afa
tama-a-aiga Matāafa
R
Matā'afa
Matāafa
R
Filifilisounu'u
Filifilisounuu
R
Fa'asuamale'aui
Faasuamaleaui
R
Filifilisounu'u
Filifilisounuu
R
Fa'asuamale'aui
Faasuamaleaui
R
Fa'asuamale'aui'
Faasuamaleaui'
R
Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u
Matāafa Faumuina Mulinuu
R
Fa’asuamale’aui
Faasuamaleaui
R
Matā'afa
Matāafa
R
Matā'afa
Matāafa