Tuimaleali'ifano is one of the four paramount chiefly titles of

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); ...

, known as the ''Tama-a-Aiga'' ("Sons of the Families"). Samoa's other three paramount chiefs are

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 ...

, Mata'afa and

Tupua Tamasese Tupua (known as Tupua Tamasese) is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the Tama-a-Aiga or 'Sons of the Great Families'). It is the titular head of one of Samoa's two great royal families - Sā Tupua, the ...

. The seat of the Tuimaleali'ifano title is at Falelatai in the Aʻana district. The current title-holder is

Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II Tuimaleali'ifano is one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa, known as the ''Tama-a-Aiga'' ("Sons of the Families"). Samoa's other three paramount chiefs are Malietoa, Mata'afa and Tupua Tamasese. The seat of the Tuimaleali'ifano title ...

, who has held the title since 1977 and currently serves as ''

O le Ao o le Malo The ''O le Ao o le Malo'' ( Samoan for "Head of State") is the 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 anticipated that future heads of st ...

'' (head of state).

Origins

The title is the most recent of the ''Tama-a-Aiga'', originating in the mid-nineteenth century with Tuiaana Sualauvi, a nephew of

Fitisemanu I. Sualauvi was appointed ''Tui A'ana'' in 1848. By the early 1860s he had also been appointed to the pāpā titles of Gatoaitele and Vaetamasoalii. In 1869, he obtained the support of Fuataga and Tafua of Aleipata and Moeono and Tusa of Falefa and Lufilufi and was appointed ''Tui Atua'', briefly ascending to the position of ''Tupu Tafa-ifa''. His reign however, would only last a year, passing away on 25 August, 1870. After Sualauvi's death his youngest son Fa'aoloi'i succeeded, and was referred to by the name Tuimaleali'ifano, a contraction of Tui, from Tuita'alili, and Leali'ifano, whose origins are disputed. Tuimaleali'ifano Fa'aoloi'i Si'ua'ana I lived until 1937, surviving civil war, German colonisation, and New Zealand colonial rule. Following his death the title was disputed, and in 1949 the

Land and Titles Court of Samoa The Land and Titles Court of Samoa is a specialist court dealing with Matai titles and customary land in Samoa. The Court was originally established in 1903 under the German colonial administration as a Land Commission. It was continued under the ...

ruled that it belonged to the descendants of Tuiaana Sualauvi. The title was again disputed following the death of Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II.

Holders

* Tuimaleali'ifano Fa'aoloi'i Si'ua'ana I (1871—1937) *Tuimaleali'ifano Fa'aoloi'i Si'ua'ana II (Si'ua'ana's eldest son, held title for nine months) * Tui A'ana Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II (1952–1974) (son of Si'ua'ana I) *

(1977–)

References

{{Reflist Samoan chiefs