(meaning "sons of the families") is a Samoan term used to refer to the four high chiefly titles in the system of the Independent State of Samoathe

Malietoa Mālietoa ( ''Mālietoa'') is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa. It is the titular head of one of the two great royal families of Samoa: Sā Malietoa. Literally translated as "great warrior", the title's orig ...

Mataʻafa Matāʻafa is one of the four paramount ''tama a ʻāiga'' (maximal lineage) titles of Samoa.Tupua Tamasese Tupua Tamasese, formally known as Tupua, is a State (polity), state dynasty and one of the four paramount Fa'amatai, chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the ''Tamaʻāiga, tama a ʻāiga''. It is the titular head of one of Samoa's two ...

and Tuimalealiʻifano.

American Samoa American Samoa is an Territories of the United States, unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States located in the Polynesia region of the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. Centered on , it is southeast of the island count ...

has its own paramount chiefs, known as , who are the sole authority of their districtsthe Leʻiato, Faumuina, Mauga, Tuitele, Fuimaono, Sātele, Letuli, and Tui Manuʻa.

History

The term first emerged during the ascension of Fuiavailili in the aftermath of King Muagututia's death in the late 17th century. Before affirming his kingship, the powerful orator polities of Lufilufi and Leulumoega had to first verify his royal pedigree by identifying the families and lineages to which he was connected. Having been satisfied, the orator polity declared Fuiavailili was a , owing to his ancestry and links to the great families of Samoa and was subsequently proclaimed king. By the last quarter of the 19th century, the status of the four dominant high chiefly dynastiesMalietoa, Mataʻafa, Tupua Tamasese, and Tuimalealiʻifano were formalized as . The co-existed with the older concept of , which covered the four previously dominant dynastic titles of Gatoaʻitele, Tamasoaliʻi, Tui Aʻana, and Tui Ātua. These four titles are held almost exclusively by . From the 16th century, these four titles, if held jointly by the same person, made that person the '' tafaʻifa'', or sovereign over all of Samoa. Two notable holders were Nāfanua and Salamāsina, although this title ceased to be in common usage during the 19th century, when they were banned by colonial powers. The titles are resurgent today, with all but one title, Tamasoaliʻi, currently held by an incumbent. Since the independence of Samoa in 1962, the position of Head of State (

O le Ao o le Malo The Independent State of Samoa ( Samoan for "Chief of the government") is the ceremonial head of state of Samoa. The position is described in Part III of the 1960 Samoan constitution. At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipa ...

) has been held by one of the , in accordance with cultural convention. Two other paramount chiefs

Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II Fiamē Mataafa Faumuina Mulinuu II (5 August 1921 – 20 May 1975) was a Samoa, Western Samoan paramount chief and politician. The holder of the Mataafa title, one of the four main Samoan Faamatai, chieftainships, he became the first Prime M ...

and

Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV (8 May 1922 – 9 July 1983) was the second prime minister of Samoa from 25 February 1970 to 20 March 1973 and again from 21 May 1975 to 24 March 1976. He held the title of Tupua Tamasese, one of the four main ...

also each served as

prime minister of Samoa The prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa () is the head of government of Independent State of Samoa, Samoa. The prime minister is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Legislative Assembly, and is appointed by the O le Ao o ...

References

Politics of Samoa Culture of Samoa Samoan words and phrases Society of Samoa Samoan chiefs {{Samoa-stub

History

See also

References