Mataʻafa
Matāʻafa is one of the four paramount tama-a-ʻaiga (maximal lineage) titles of Samoa.
The title was then passed on to Matāʻafa Faʻasuamaleaui Puʻela Patu. After his death in 1997, the title fell vacant until 2011, when it was granted to Matāʻafa Tupuola Lui Iosefo.[5] Following his death in 2014, the title again became vacant and remains so to this day.
Origins of the Matāʻafa
The beginnings of the tama-a-ʻaiga Matāʻafa lineage is traced through to
Tuimavave's union with King Tupua's grand-daughter, Salaina'oloa, has resulted in the Matā'afa titles' close association with the other tama-a-aiga title, Tupua Tamasese and the aloali’i title Luafalemana of Falefa. This has at times, resulted in Matā'afa holders also holding the Tupua title concurrently, like Matā'afa Iosefo, who became known as Tupua Matā'afa Iosefo.[6] By joining the daughter of Luafalemana with Tuimavave, the Tui Atua line arrives at a harmonious junction between the two great families of Atua - 'Aiga Sā Levālasi (custodian of the Matā'afa title) and 'Aiga Sā Fenunuivao (custodian of the Tupua Tamasese title).[1]
Family traditions differ as to who was the first Matāʻafa, but the majority of opinions favour either Filifilisounuʻu, son of Faʻasuamaleʻaui or Tafagamanu, son of Filifilisounuʻu.
Authority
Like the Tupua Tamasese title, the Matāʻafa titleholder is selected by its primary political family and heirs. The title is held in custodianship by the ʻAiga Sā Mata’afa, among whom are the ʻAiga Sā Tago as well as the ʻAiga Sā Levalasi, named after Levalasi, Queen Salamasina's adoptive mother.
Ownership of the title was confirmed in 1939, where it was decided that ʻAiga 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 ʻAiga'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,
Title holders
Holders of the Matā'afa title include;
- Matā'afa Iosefo (1832–1912), a rival for the 'kingship' of Samoa during the country's colonial era.
- Matā'afa Tupuola Iose (1912–1915)
- Matā'afa Muliufi (1915–1936), a member of the Legislative Council
- The title then passed to the Silupevailei line to Matā'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I (died 1948), a leader of Samoa's pro-independence Mau movement.
- Was married to a daughter of the other tama-a-'aiga, Malietoa Laupepa.
- Fiame Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II (1921–1975), son of Matā'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I. First Prime Minister of Samoa.
- Was married to Laulu Fetauimalemau Matā'afa(1928–2007).
- Their daughter Hon. Fiame Naomi Matā'afa, is the current high chief of Lotofaga, and the first Female Prime Minister of Samoa since 2021.
- Was married to
- The title was then passed back to the Faasuamale'aui line to Matā'afa Puela Faasuamaleaui Patu until his passing in 1997.
- The title then passed to Matāʻafa Tupuola Lui Iosefo in 2011, until his death in 2014. The title remains vacant today.
Gallery
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Mata'afa Iosefo (1832 - 1912)
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Pacific Islands leaders with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice(center), in Samoa, 26 July 2008
See also
- Fa'amatai, chieflty system of Samoa.
- Muagututi'a
- Malietoa
- Tuimaleali'ifano
- Tupua Tamasese
- Tui Manu'a
- German Samoa
- History of Samoa
- Politics of Samoa
References
- ^ )
- ^ [1] Tradition versus democracy in the South Pacific: Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa by Stephanie Lawson, p. 146
- ISBN 982-02-0031-8. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- ISBN 982-02-0377-5.
- ^ Staff writer (7 November 2014). "Avanoa Suafa Tama-Aiga, Tuumalo Mataafa Lui Iosefo". Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ )
- OCLC 244005120.