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Ifoga
''Ifoga'' is a Samoan ceremony of apology, in which one party ritually and publicly humiliates themselves and offers a gift of ʻIe tōga (fine mats) in exchange for forgiveness by another. It is a part of traditional dispute resolution between families in Faʻa Sāmoa where mediation has failed. The term comes from the word ''ifo'', "to bow down". Ritual In an ''ifoga'', the party seeking forgiveness sits before the house of the wronged party and is then covered up by fine mats. Traditionally this is done under cover of darkness, with the party seeking forgiveness bringing firewood, stones, and banana leaves (required for an earth oven). Forgiveness is given when the wronged party removes the mats, and this is followed by exchanges of speeches and gifts. While traditionally an ''ifoga'' could result in prolonged waiting, or even be rejected, in contemporary Samoa it is almost always accepted quickly. Contemporary use ''Ifoga'' are sometimes offered by the perpetrators of violen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Samoan Culture
The traditional culture of Samoa is a communal way of life based on Fa'a Samoa, the unique socio-political culture. In Samoan culture, most activities are done together. The traditional living quarters, or '' fale'' (houses), contain no walls and up to 20 people may sleep on the ground in the same fale. During the day, the fale is used for chatting and relaxing. One's family is viewed as an integral part of a person's life. The aiga or extended family lives and works together. Elders in the family are greatly respected and hold the highest status, and this may be seen at a traditional Sunday ''umu'' (normal oven). Samoan culture is present in both the Independent State of Samoa and in American Samoa (a territory of the United States). Traditional art forms Both men and women can be tattooed (''tatau''). A man's tattoo is called the soga'i miki while a woman's tattoo is called a ''malu''. Women play an important part in contributing with their skills in items of important cu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hoʻoponopono
Hooponopono () is a traditional Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. The Hawaiian word translates into English simply as ''correction'', with the synonyms ''manage'' or ''supervise''. Similar forgiveness practices are performed on islands throughout the South Pacific, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand. Traditional ''Hooponopono'' is practiced by Indigenous Hawaiian healers, often within the extended family by a family member. Polynesian antecedents In many Polynesian cultures, it is believed that a person's errors (called ''hara'' or ''hala'') caused illness. Some believe error angers the gods, others that it attracts malevolent gods, and still others believe the guilt caused by error made one sick. "In most cases, however, specific 'untie-error' rites could be performed to atone for such errors and thereby diminish one's accumulation of them." Among the islands of Vanuatu in the South Pacific, people believe that illness usually is caused by se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Samoa
Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono and Apolima); and several smaller, uninhabited islands, including the Aleipata Islands (Nu'utele, Nu'ulua, Fanuatapu and Namua). Samoa is located west of American Samoa, northeast of Tonga (closest foreign country), northeast of Fiji, east of Wallis and Futuna, southeast of Tuvalu, south of Tokelau, southwest of Hawaii, and northwest of Niue. The capital city is Apia. The Lapita culture, Lapita people discovered and settled the Samoan Islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed a Samoan language and Samoan culture, Samoan cultural identity. Samoa is a Unitary state, unitary Parliamentary system, parliamentary democracy with 11 Administrative divisions of Samoa, administrative divisions. It is a sovereign state and a member of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ʻIe Tōga
An ''ie tōga'' is a special finely woven mat that is an important item of cultural value in Samoa. They are commonly referred to in English as "fine mats" although they are never used as mats as they only have a purely cultural value. Ie tōga are valued by the quality of the weave and the softness and shine of the material. They are made by women and form an important part of their role, identity and skill in their community. Ie tōga have an unwoven fringe and a strip of red feathers. They are important in gift exchanges during cultural ceremonies and events including ''matai'' chief title bestowals, weddings and funerals. In this way, ie tōga are passed from family to family, sometimes for many years and are greatly valued. Historically, some ie tōga were so valuable they were given their own names. The process of making a fine ie tōga can take months of work and have been known to take years. The completion of ie tōga can involve a public celebration and presentation wit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Faʻa Sāmoa
''Faa Sāmoa'', the 'Samoan Islands, Samoan Way', is the traditional/customary way of life in Samoan culture. Concept ''Faa Sāmoa'' consists of the Samoan language, customs of relationships, and culture, that constitute the traditional and continuing Polynesian culture, Polynesian lifestyle on Samoa and in the Samoan diaspora. It embraces an all-encompassing system of behavior and of responsibilities that spells out all Samoans' relationships to one another and to persons holding positions of authority. This is how Samoans are raised and live, and provides support and direction to individuals within family and political structures. Central to the organisation of Samoan society is the culture's ''faamatai'', the traditional system of social organisation. Hosts have responsibility for the actions of their guests, and may incur a fine from the village authorities for infractions of local customs. ''Faa Sāmoa'' includes the way one stands, walks and speaks, for example by saying " ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earth Oven
An earth oven, ground oven or cooking pit is one of the simplest and most ancient cooking structures. At its most basic, an earth oven is a pit in the ground used to trap heat and bake, smoke, or steam food. Earth ovens have been used in many places and cultures in the past, and the presence of such cooking pits is a key sign of human settlement often sought by archaeologists. Earth ovens remain a common tool for cooking large quantities of food where no equipment is available. They have been used in various civilizations around the world and are still commonly found in the Pacific region to date. To bake food, the fire is built, then allowed to burn down to a smoulder. The food is then placed in the oven and covered. This covered area can be used to bake bread or other various items. Steaming food in an earth oven covers a similar process. Fire-heated rocks are put into a pit and are covered with green vegetation to add moisture and large quantities of food. More green vegetati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2021 Samoan Constitutional Crisis
A constitutional crisis began in Samoa on 22 May 2021 when O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II issued a proclamation purporting to prevent the Legislative Assembly from meeting in the wake of the general election in April 2021. Court rulings had upheld the election results, giving a parliamentary majority to the Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, led by Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa. On 24 May 2021, a makeshift ceremony was held outside of Parliament to swear in Mata'afa as prime minister. On 23 July the Court of Appeal declared that the ceremony was binding and that FAST had been the government since that date. Background The election of 9 April 2021 resulted in a 25/25 tie between the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) of former Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi and the FAST party of Fiamē Naomi Mataafa, with the remaining seat held by the independent Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio. On 20 April 2021, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alapati Lui Mataeliga
Alapati Lui Mataeliga (born 4 January 1953) is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Samoa-Apia. He was born in Sataua on the island of Savai'i. He was ordained for the presbyterate of the Diocese of Samoa and Tokelau on July 5, 1977. Upon the retirement of Cardinal Pio Taofinu'u, Father Mataeliga was appointed by the Holy See as the second Archbishop of Samoa-Apia on November 16, 2002. He was consecrated to the episcopate and installed as ordinary by Archbishop Patrick Coveney, Apostolic Nuncio to Samoa, on January 3, 2003. On 31 May 2021, during the 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis, Alapati denounced caretaker prime minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi for ignoring the courts and refusing to yield power. In the aftermath of the crisis, when the FAST government was refusing to allow opposition MPs to be sworn into parliament, Alapati performed an ''ifoga'' outside the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in order to seek peace. See also * Catholic Church hierarchy * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Legislative Assembly Of Samoa
The Legislative Assembly ( sm, Fono Aoao Faitulafono a Samoa), also known as the Parliament of Samoa ( sm, Palemene o Samoa), is the national legislature of Samoa, seated at Apia, where the country's central administration is situated. Samoan Parliament is composed of two parts: the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) and the Legislative Assembly. In the Samoan language, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa is sometimes referred to as the Samoan Fono while the ''government'' of the country is referred to as the Malo. The word ''fono'' is a Samoan and Polynesian term for councils or meetings great and small and applies to national assemblies and legislatures, as well as local village councils. The modern government of Samoa exists on a national level alongside the country's '' fa'amatai'' indigenous chiefly system of governance and social organisation. In his or her own right, the O le Ao o le Malo can summon and call together the Legislative Assembly, and can prorogue or dissolve P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician who has been serving as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party since 2017. A member of the Labour Party, she has been the member of Parliament (MP) for Mount Albert since 2017. Born in Hamilton, Ardern grew up in Morrinsville and Murupara. She joined the Labour Party at the age of 17. After graduating from the University of Waikato in 2001, Ardern worked as a researcher in the office of Prime Minister Helen Clark. She later worked in London as an adviser in the Cabinet Office. In 2008, Ardern was elected president of the International Union of Socialist Youth. Ardern was first elected as an MP in the 2008 general election, when Labour lost power after nine years. She was later elected to represent the Mount Albert electorate in a by-election on 25 February 2017. Ardern was unanimously elected as deputy leader of the Labour Party on 1 March 2017, after the resig ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Samoan New Zealanders
Samoan New Zealanders are Samoan immigrants in New Zealand, their descendants, and New Zealanders of Samoan ethnic descent. They constitute one of New Zealand's most sizeable ethnic minorities. In the 2018 census, 182,721 New Zealanders identified themselves as being of Samoan ethnicity with 55,512 stating that they were born in Samoa, and 861 stating that they were born in American Samoa. History Overview The country of Samoa (distinct from American Samoa) has a unique historical relationship with New Zealand, having been administered by New Zealand from 1914 to 1962. Notable levels of Samoan migration to New Zealand began in the 1950s. In the 1970s, Samoan illegal immigrants were the targets of notorious " dawn raids" by the police, which led to accusations of ethnic bias in tackling illicit immigration. That same decade, some Samoan New Zealanders joined the newborn Polynesian Panthers, an organisation dedicated to supporting Pacific Islander New Zealanders, for example by p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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