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 and Apolima); ...

is made up of eleven itūmālō (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's faalupega (traditional salutations). The capital village of each district administers and coordinates the affairs of the district and confers each districts' paramount title, amongst other responsibilities.

Examples of District Governance

A'ana has its capital at

Leulumoega Leulumoega Tuai is a village situated on the northwest coast Upolu island in 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 mai ...

. The paramount title of A'ana is the Tui A'ana. The orator group which confers this titlethe Faleiva (House of Nine)is based at Leulumoega. The paramount tama-a-'āiga title of A'ana is Tuimalealiifano of Falelatai. There is currently no holder of the Tui A'ana title as the orator polity of Leulumoega is yet to decide. In

Tuamasaga Tuamāsaga is a district of Samoa, with a population (2016 Census) of 95,907. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part of Upolu island. History & Politics Malie & the Malietoa The paramount ''matai'' title of Tuamasaga is the ...

, the paramount matai title of Malietoa is conferred by the Sa Malietoa of Malie. The pāpā titles of Gatoaitele and Vaetamasoalii are known as pāpā fafine, owing to their roots with the original female occupants. Both titles are conferred by the Fale Tuamasaga based in Afega and Safata respectively. The current holder of the Malietoa title is Malietoa Moli, son of former Head of State,

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 f ...

. The current Gatoaitele holder is Savea Sano Malifa, owner of the

Samoa Observer The ''Samoa Observer'' is the largest newspaper group in Samoa published in both English and Samoan. The ''Samoa Observer'' is published Monday to Friday, the ''Weekend Observer'' on Saturdays and the ''Sunday Samoan'' on Sundays with all editi ...

newspaper. There is no current holder of the Vaetamasoalii pāpā title.

Atua Atua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian peoples such as the Māori or the Hawaiians (see also ); the Polynesian word literally means "power" or "strength" and so the concept is similar to that of '' mana''. Today, it is also used for ...

has its capital at

Lufilufi Lufilufi is a historical village situated on the north coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village is part of the electoral constituency (''Faipule District'') Anoamaa East which is within the larger political district of Atua. The village's popula ...

, a former part of Falefa that was designated as its own village following the events that gave it its name. The paramount pāpā title and sovereign of Atua is the Tui Atua. The orator group which confers this title is the Faleono (House of Six) senior orators of Lufilufi.The two paramount matai - called tama-a-'āiga - are Tupua Tamasese, which is conferred by the Aiga Sa Fenunu'ivao (Descendants of Fenunu'ivao, mother of Tupua Fuiavailili) of Falefa and Salani; and Matā'afa, conferred by the Aiga Sa Levālasi (Descendants of Levālasi, mother of Salamāsina) of Lotofaga and Āmaile. Samoa's first Prime Minister, Fiame Matā'afa Faumuina Mulinu'u II was a holder of the Matā'afa title. The current holder of the Tupua Tamasese and Tui Atua titles is former Prime Minister and Head of State Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi.

Political districts

Exclaves of political districts

Note that several districts include multiple exclaves: * Gaga'emauga: besides the main part on Savai'i, there are two small exclaves on Upolu: Salamumu and

Le'auva'a Le'auva'a ("the people from the boat") is a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. The population is 3274. Although the village, with an area of 5.558 km2, is geographically located on Upolu, the village is politically (and historically) pa ...

this is the only district with areas on both main islands * Satupa'itea: consists of two separate areas on the south side of Savai'i *

Palauli Palauli is a districts of Samoa, district and village of Samoa, with a population (2016 Census) of 9,300. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i. The capital is Vailoa which is also referred to as Vailoa i Palauli (Vailoa in P ...

: consists of two separate areas on the south side of Savai'i * A'ana: besides the main part, there is a small exclave (Satuimalufilufi village) *

Va'a-o-Fonoti Va'a-o-Fonoti is a district on the north east coast of Upolu Island in Samoa, with a population (2016 Census) of 1,621, making it the least populated district in the country. The district is 38 km2 and consists of a main area around Fagaloa ...

: besides the main part, there is a small exclave (Faleāpuna village) *

Aiga-i-le-Tai Aiga-i-le-Tai is a district of Samoa which includes the small islands of Manono, Apolima and tiny uninhabited Nu'ulopa lying in the Apolima Strait between the country's two main islands of Upolu and Savai'i. The district includes part of the ma ...

: includes the islands Manono,

Apolima Apolima is the smallest of the four inhabited islands of Samoa. It lies in the Apolima Strait, between the country's two largest islands: Upolu to the east, and Savai'i to the west. The island has one village settlement, Apolima Tai, with a ...

and Nu'ulopa *

: includes the

Aleipata Islands The Aleipata Islands are a group of four uninhabited islands off the eastern end of Upolu Island, Samoa. The islands are eroded volcanic tuff rings, and consist of a small northern pair on Upolu's barrier reef, and a larger southern pair outside ...

and Nu'usafe'e island

Electoral districts

The ''itūmālō'' are further subdivided in 51 ''faipule'' districts. They have no administrative function, but serve as single-member electoral constituencies. The ''faipule'' districts are also used as regional units for statistics. The ''faipule'' electoral districts are based loosely on the traditional sub-districts of the ''Itūmālō''. For example, the ''faipule'' districts of Anoama'a West and Anoama'a East are based on the traditional sub-district of Anoama'a in the northern half of the

district.

Villages

At the local level, there are 265 villages. Additionally, there are 71 villages in

district the capital Apia is composed of (58 villages in Vaimauga West and 13 in Faleata East electoral districts). Apia does not have a common administration, the local power rests with the constituent villages.

References

External links

Map: election districts
{{Samoa topics, state=collapsed Subdivisions of Samoa Samoa, Districts Samoa 1 Districts, Samoa Samoa geography-related lists