''Ifoga'' is a Samoan ceremony of apology, in which one party ritually and publicly humiliates themselves and offers a gift of

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 a ...

(fine mats) in exchange for forgiveness by another. It is a part of traditional dispute resolution between families in

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 cont ...

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 violent crimes such as murder or manslaughter. While this has no effect on whether a crime is prosecuted, it may be taken into account at sentencing as a show of remorse. They are also used by the families of offenders to apologise to the families of victims of violent crime. In the aftermath of the

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 gene ...

when the FAST government was refusing to allow opposition MPs to be sworn into parliament, Catholic Archbishop Alapati Lui Mataeliga performed an ''ifoga'' outside the Legislative Assembly of Samoa in order to seek peace. In August 2021, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern performed an ''ifoga'' to seek the forgiveness of the New Zealand-Samoan community for the Dawn Raids. This was the first time the ''ifoga'' had been performed by a world leader.

References

{{reflist Samoan culture Dispute resolution

Ritual

Contemporary use

See also

References