Malietoa Tanumafili II of Samoa

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His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II
Head of state (Malietoa) of Samoa

Reign	1939 - Present
Born	January 4, 1913
	Birthplace???
Predecessor	Malietoa Tanumafili I
Successor	Incumbent
Father	Malietoa Tanumafili I
Mother	Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea

Malietoa Tanumafili II, GCMG, CBE, (born January 4, 1913) (also called Susuga) is one of the paramount chiefs, Malietoa (since 1939), and the current head of state (O le Ao o le Malo) of Samoa (and also the oldest national leader in the world). He holds this position for life. He descends from Samoa's four princely families (Aiga Tupu) and holds the title Mālietoa, one of the paramount titles.

As a tribal chief, he is currently the longest reigning monarch in the world. It must be stressed, however, that he is not a king, but rather a president for life. After his death a new head of state will be selected; the office is not inheritable.

He was born in 1913 as the son and third child of Malietoa Tanumafili I and Momoe Lupeuluiva Meleisea. He has been the Mālietoa since his father's death.

Upon Samoa's independence in 1962, he was joint head of state with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole. When the latter died in 1963, he became sole head of state. As of November 2006, Malietoa Tanumafili is the third-longest serving head of state in the world, after the King of Thailand and Queen Elizabeth II. Malietoa Tanumafili II is a follower of the Bahá'í Faith. He is the second royal (after Queen Marie of Romania) to be a member of that religion. The Bahá'í House of Worship in Tiapapata, eight kilometers from the country's capital of Apia, was dedicated by him in 1984.

[edit] Honours

Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1977)
Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire

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Preceded by: Charles Lyttelton, last pre-independence Governor-General of New Zealand	Head of State of Samoa 1962-Present (with Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole until 1963)	Succeeded by: Incumbent