Fa'amatai

Three matai, the two older men bearing the symbols of orator chief status – the fue (flywhisk made of organic sennit rope with a wooden handle) over their left shoulder. The central elder holds the orator's wooden staff (to'oto'o) of office and wears an 'ie toga, fine matting. The other two men wear tapa cloth with patterned designs.
The architecture of Samoa dictate seating areas for matai and orators according to their status, rank, role and ceremony.

Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.[1] It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa. The term comprises the prefix fa'a (Samoan for "in the way of") and the word matai (family name or title).

Of central importance in the system are the matai,[2] the holders of family chief titles, and their role in looking after their family. Fa'amatai is the key socio-political system of governance and way of life (fa'a Samoa) in Samoan culture. Inherent in the fa'amatai system is the welfare and well-being of the extended family ('aiga) and the protection of family property, consisting most importantly of customary land.

In the 49-seat parliament of independent Samoa, all 47 Samoan Members of Parliament are also matai, performing dual roles as chiefs and modern politicians, with the exception of the two seats reserved for non-Samoans.[3]

The fa'amatai system is significant in modern Samoa where most of the land, about 81% (567,000 acres), is under customary ownership with the rest under the national government (malo) as public lands with another 4% freehold.[1]

The 2011 official census of independent Samoa identified a total of 16,787 matai (8.9%) living in the country from a total population of 187,820. Of the total number of matai, 15,021 (89.5%) were male and 1,766 (10.5%) were female.[4]

The Fa'amatai system has been greatly impacted upon by colonialism as well as Samoa's modern politics which came into effect when the country gained independence in 1962.

Former system of government

The Cyclopedia of Samoa (published 1907) states:[5]

"The old form of government in Samoa seems to have approached closely to the monarchical government obtaining in Tahiti and the Sandwich Islands. It was something of a combination of the monarchical and patriarchal forms. While the whole group was nominally governed by one head, or king the various districts had their own separate governments under their chiefs and local authorities, all for the most part independent of each other. The power of a high chief in whom the five distinct titles of the O le Tupu were centred was very great, and extended over the whole group of islands.

Three great families comprise what may be termed the aristocracy of Samoa - Sa Mataafa, Sa Malietoa, and Sa Muagututi'a- and for a great length of time the title of O le Tupu was confined to members of the last-named family.

The ramifications of these three families spread throughout the entire group. On the death of the Safe-o-fafine, the last king in the Muagututi'a line, the title remained in abeyance for a long time, and was eventually usurped by a war priest of Manono. O le Tamafaiga, who assumed the attributes of a god as well as those of a king. He was actually worshipped as a god and developed into a tyrant. In the hope of escaping from his tyranny, the people of A'ana conferred their title of Tui A'ana upon him, but only to further smart under his oppressive rule. Soon he obtained the remaining titles, and was proclaimed O le Tupu-o-Samoa. And so for the first time for many generations the dignity passed from the family of Muagututi'a. A'ana not only lost the prestige it had so long held in this connection but the royal residence no longer was situated in the province, the new king continuing to reside on Manono. As his tyranny increased, in like proportion increased the hatred of the people of A'ana, and at length they rose against him and he was killed in 1829. This was just before John Williams, whose name is a shining light in the annals of missionary enterprise, visited Samoa for the first time. A bloody war ensued and A'ana's power was broken and the district laid waste."

Governance

Lepea village with round meeting houses where matai meetings take place and open commons area (malae) for outdoor ceremonies.

Samoa's chiefly system revolves around family ('aiga) kinship, based on the culture's communal and extended family relationships. The term 'aiga includes not only the immediate family (father, mother and children), but also the whole union of families of a clan and even those who although not related are subject to the family control.[6]

At the local level, much of the country's civil and criminal matters are dealt with by some 360 village chief councils, Fono o Matai, according to traditional law, a practice further strengthened by the 1990 Village Fono Law.[7]

Most Samoans live in villages consisting of groups of families with close ties and history. The influence of the matai is felt not only in the village but also in the district and even beyond. The active factor in the life of the village is the village council or fono o matai and its members are the matai. The fono of matai is the executive and judicial authority[8] of every village in Samoa. If a matter is of importance the assembly is held on the malae, the open space in front of the village.

The speakers address the assembly and stand to do so. The listeners are comfortably seated on mats. Those not taking part in these assemblies are described as tagatanu'u (people of the village) and include untitled men, women and children. Democratic ideas do not prevail at these fonos and decisions are independent of majority or minority rule. The decision of one or more matai sili (senior matai) is decisive. The remainder who are merely at the fono to listen, agree with the decisions given. It is permissible for the minor matai to discuss the matter with and endeavour to try to influence the matai sili before the fono commences.

Before the fono commences preliminary councils are held (taupulega) by the different groups and at these councils the single family heads exchange opinions and endeavour to convince each other and to create harmony in order that when the actual fono eventuates everything will move smoothly. Some matai are permitted to speak at these fono without having any right to make a decision.[6]

The 2006 census of Samoa also revealed that 96% of the country's matai were actively involved in village activities as part of their matai responsibilities. The 4% 'not active' was explained as possibly due to the matai holding more than one title or living away from the village where their title belonged.[4]

Authority

The authority of the matai has some limits. They are called upon to discuss all important matters with everyone of significance belonging to the family union. If the matter is of minor importance and only of interest to the immediate village family, more distant relations may be omitted from discussion. Matai subject to a senior matai (matai sili) are independent in family matters concerning their own single family unless they have a tuaigoa shared title name only, in which case they are not referred to at all in family matters and may be deprived of their names at the will of their superior at any time.

Modern politics

Government Building in the capital Apia housing administrative ministerial offices.

The fa'amatai system is entrenched in Samoan politics. From the country's independence in 1962, only matai could vote and stand as candidates in elections to parliament. In 1990, the voting system was changed by the Electoral Amendment Act which introduced universal suffrage and the right to vote for adults aged 21-years and over. However, the right to stand for elections remains with matai, who are themselves selected by consensus of their families, including non-matai family members. Therefore, every Samoan Member of Parliament is also a matai, performing dual roles as a 'chief' as well as duties in the Samoan parliament.[3] This applies to most Samoans in positions of public responsibility from the Prime Minister of Samoa to the country's Head of State, who is referred to as O le Ao o le Malo (the chieftain of the government).

Colonial influences

Coat of arms of German Samoa.

As matai head their families and represent their villages, communities and districts, important high-ranking title-holders came to play significant roles in colonial politics with the advent of western powers and rivalry in the 19th century.

The colonial era saw Britain, Germany and the United States supporting different matai (such as Mata'afa Iosefo and the youthful Malietoa Tanumafili I) in order to gain political influence in Samoa. This led to the colonial powers bestowing the European title of king upon their own candidate during the tumultuous years of the late 19th century, leading to warring among competing high-ranking matai in different districts.

The Samoan term tupu, referring to paramount status over a particular region or the entire island group, has sometimes been translated incorrectly to the English language as "king" in the European sense.[9] The relatively brief usage of the term "king" died out with the end of colonialism.

In the early 20th century, matai leadership played a pivotal role in the pro-independence Mau movement which eventually led to Western Samoa's independence in 1962.

Matai title

High chief Seumanutafa Pogai of Apia, circa 1890–1910. (photo by Thomas Andrew)

Each matai has a name (suafa) by and through which they exercise their rights in the family over which they preside. Matai names are for the most part very old ones and are handed down from generation to generation. Matai titles can be bestowed on one person or numerous family members who are distinguished from each other by their Christian name.

It is common for each 'aiga to have a number of matai titles, but one particular title will be the most important and serve as the main matai title. The title of a family matai which is peculiar and particular to that family is the subject of tradition and is faithfully recorded by the family and passed on from generation to generation.

It sometimes happens that new names are for some reason taken and the old ones discarded or passed on to lesser or junior chiefs.

In Samoan culture, the concept of serving and taking on the responsibility for the welfare of the family is integral to the fa'amatai system. Various members of the family are called upon in turn to support their matai in carrying out their role and responsibilities according to Samoan tradition, cultural obligations and duty.[6] This often involves the family contributing money and important cultural items such as 'ie toga (fine mats) as well as food which the matai presents on behalf of the 'aiga to ensure the family's obligations are met in their village or wider community.

Men and women have equal rights to matai titles in Samoa, although the role of women in Samoan society means female matai comprise a relatively small percentage.

Before the advent of European contact and influence, the authority (pule) of the matai extended to life and limb but this power has been altered and absorbed by a Western-style modern government (referred to as the malo) where the matai's authority is confined and balanced against the national governance.

(The youngest Maitai of any Samoan tribe ever was made in 2015, titled to a 15 years old boy named Alex Kerr, who is half Samoan half European.)

Ali'i and tulafale

Coat of Arms of American Samoa showing the symbols of matai status - to'oto'o orator's staff and fue fly whisk. The round tanoa (or laulau) vessel represents the 'ava ceremony, central to Samoan traditions.

There are two types of matai: ali'i (loosely translated chief or high chief depending on a specific title's rank) and tulafale (orator chief).[9]

In former times the term matai applied only to tulafale, but over time the term has become applied to ali'i generally.[6]

Samoan gafa (pedigree, ancestors, descent) is central to family kinship and will usually commence from the person who first brought the name into prominence and caused it to be respected. It does not necessarily mean that the family commenced from the institution of a name or that the individual holding the title was the founder of the family. Former matai of the family have by comparison become unimportant and their names have fallen into disuse or become uninfluential.

The wife of an ali'i is referred to as faletua. The wife of a tulafale (orator status matai) is referred to as tausi.[10]

Orator chiefs

Central to Samoan culture is the recording of history and genealogy which was achieved through oral history before the introduction of a written language. Orator chiefs (tulafale) and speakers (failauga - 'speech-maker') are terms used for Samoans holding the position of speakers or mouthpieces of chiefs and they are found in all villages. Important matai titles are also tied to certain orator matai titles. Orators serve the means of conveying the wishes of chiefs to the people or speaking on behalf of the family, village or district on important occasions. The orator is the recorder of family histories and pedigree (fa'alupega), genealogies (gafa) and events and is indispensable at public ceremonies. There are many Samoan public events at which the distribution of mats will take place. Many of these mats, particularly the fine mats ('ie toga), are valued very highly both from a monetary point of view and also from a historical and sentimental viewpoint. The more important mats bear respected names. The most noteworthy occasions on which mats are presented are marriages, births and deaths and the bestowal of a chiefly title.[6]

Customary land

View in Safune village.
Apolima Tai village in Apolima Island, (1890 - 1910).

The matai of the family is the administrator and representative of the family property which includes customary land. Most of the population in Samoa, 65% overall, live with their families in villages on customary land. However, the 2006 Samoa census showed that 34 out of 48 political districts had more than 80% of households living on customary land with the lowest figures (25%) in the more densely concentrated urbanised area around the capital Apia. On the island of Savai'i, where there are fewer people and fewer signs of western material culture, 93% of the 43,142 population live on customary land.[4]

Looking after the collective family land is one of the most important responsibilities of Samoan families and their matai.

A matai may make their wishes known and bequeath certain property to others such as a married daughter, but they cannot transfer land rights beyond their own.[6] Under the management of one or more matai the lands are divided amongst the various families for their own use and are viewed by these family members as their unassailable rights.

A Samoan proverb highlighting the importance of land in Samoa reads, E le soifua umi le tagata fa'atau fanua (The man who sells family land will not live to an old age - devils will bring about his early death).

With most of the country's land under customary ownership, the position of the matai is significant in modern-day politics in Samoa in terms of the nation's economic development, conservation, sustainability, tourism, national infrastructure and access to natural resources such as water, forestry, road access, agriculture and farming.

An example in recent years is the matai from the village of Sili on the island of Savai'i turning down a government proposal to build a hydroelectric plant on village land because of environmental concerns.[11] In contrast, the matai in Sasina have agreed with government support to an unprecedented 120-year lease of prime oceanfront land to an American company to build a tourism resort estimated to cost US$450–500 million.[12] In conservation, the villages of Uafato in the Va'a-o-Fonoti district at the east end of Upolu[13] island and Falealupo at the west end of Savai'i have agreed to conservation covenants for their native forests.

Much of the land under the government today was alienated or sold during colonialism[14] and later came under the Samoa government when the colonial era ended. This includes large tracts of plantation land from the 19th century as well as later periods of colonial administration including German Samoa (1900–1914) followed by the New Zealand administration.

This has resulted in ongoing court cases for land claims between matai and the government, such as that of the village of Satapuala over land by Faleolo International Airport, disputes which directly impact upon the country's national infrastructure.

Matai selection

Young Samoan women preparing 'ava, 1909

In effect, every Samoan, men and women, is an heir to a matai title pertaining to their kinship and ancestry. However, matai titles are not automatically passed from a matai to their children or direct descendants but are bestowed upon those whom the extended family agree will best serve their needs while also ensuring that different branches of the family are represented. A recent example of this Samoan custom and law is the stripping of the important Malietoa title from the son of the previous title holder, the late Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II (1913–2007). Following Malietoa Tanumafili II's death in 2007, one branch of the family bestowed the title upon his son Papali'i Fa'amausili Moli in the village of Malie. The other branches of the family filed petitions at the Samoa Land and Titles Court claiming the bestowal invalid in breach of Samoan law. In June 2008, the court agreed and ruled the bestowal of the Malietoa title upon the son illegal,[15] highlighting the unique nature of matai selection based on consensus, merit, custom and due process rather than automatic hereditary selection. Other cultural factors can also play a part in the complex decision making process including seniority in age (an important factor in Samoan society), leadership qualities, oratory and an individual's ability to contribute to the family's overall circumstances and well-being.

Title bestowal

Woven fine mat ('ie toga) which have an important cultural value in Samoa.

Matai titles (suafa, literally "formal name") are bestowed upon family members during a cultural ceremony called a saofa'i which occurs only after discussion and consensus within the family. The saofa'i is a solemn ceremony which marks the formal acceptance of a new matai by their family and village into the circle of chiefs and orators. It involves the gathering of chiefs and orators in a fale tele meeting house, the exchanging of oratory speeches, the reciting of genealogies and a kava ceremony followed by a feast provided by the new matai's family.[16] Architecture of Samoa dictates seating positions inside the meeting house during the title bestowal including the position of those making the kava being situated at the rear. Once the ceremony is completed, the new matai is henceforth called by their new name.

In New Zealand, more people born in Samoa than any other foreign country officially change their names with the Department of Internal Affairs and it is believed that many of these are adding matai titles.[17]

Non-Samoans

Matai titles are sometimes conferred upon non-Samoans as an honour by Samoan families and their villages. An example is the title of Seiuli conferred in 1993 by Samoa's Head of State, Malietoa Tanumafili II upon Barry Curtis, at the time Mayor of Manukau, a New Zealand city with a large Samoan population. Other non-Samoan New Zealanders bestowed with matai titles include prime ministers Rob Muldoon, David Lange and Jim Bolger, politician Winston Peters[18] and Auckland businessman Dick Hubbard who holds the title Galumalemana. [19] In 1988, American ethnobotanist Paul Alan Cox received the legendary title Nafanua from the village of Falealupo, where Cox had lived for many years and later helped to set up a covenant to protect the native rainforest.[20] In 1978, the Governor-General of Fiji, Ratu Sir George Cakobau was bestowed the title Peseta by Matautu on Savai'i island during his visit to Tui Fiti's sacred ground.[21]

Naming convention

A matai title is always first in naming convention as the most important name for a titled individual. When a person is appointed a matai, they retain their Christian name in addition to their new matai title. The matai title is appended to the beginning of their name so that their Christian name follows their new matai title. As one person may hold a number of different matai names from different branches of their genealogy, the new names are also added before their Christian name, with no set order in terms of general usage. An example is Mata'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I whose first three names reveal individual high chief titles and thereby his genealogy and the different villages and families to which he belonged; the Faumuina title from Lepea, the Fiame title from Lotofaga and the Mata'afa title, one of the paramount names in the country.

As more than one family member can be bestowed the same matai title, each person's Christian name serves to distinguish them from each other. Dividing a family title so that it is shared among more than one family member is also agreed upon by consensus. The Samoans explain this by saying that a man has a fasi igoa – a piece of the title.[6]

Usoali'i refers to brother chiefs, those men in the family union holding matai names. They may all enjoy the same rights or be under the control of one matai who is termed sao, in which case the other chiefs are referred to as tuaigoa.

Women matai

Of Samoa's total population of 187,820 (2011 census), 90,830 were female, comprising 48.4% of the population. The male (51.6%) to female (48.4%) ratio for the country is higher than the world ratio. In 2011, there were 1,766 female matai, 10.5% of the 16,787 matai living in the country.[4]

A woman can hold a matai name and have the pule (authority) of the family but this does not often occur. Should she have both she will usually bestow her matai title on one of her family, probably her husband, and retain the pule.

In 2006, there were four female Members of Parliament in Samoa and three were cabinet ministers out of a 13-member cabinet.[4]

Prominent women matai in Samoa include scholar and historian Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa (matai title Aiono), high chief and senior cabinet minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa (matai title Fiame), politician Safuneitu'uga Pa'aga Neri (matai title Safuneitu'uga) and writer Letuimanu'asina Emma Kruse Va'ai (matai title Letuimanu'asina).

With many Samoans also living overseas in other countries, other prominent Samoan female matai includes New Zealand former Member of Parliament Luamanuvao Winnie Laban (matai title Luamanuvao).

Old age

Seniority in years and old age is a respectful status in Samoan society where elders, a familiar or complete stranger, are referred to as tamā (father) or tinā (mother). In this cultural context, a retired matai usually enjoys the respect of their family and is referred to as the faʻatonutonu folau, the steersperson of the boat. In this case they do not actually do the steering but their advice is listened to and their family profits from their ripe experience.

Untitled men

Young man dressed as a manaia, the son of a Samoan chief, in ceremonial attire including an elaborate headdress (tuiga), circa 1890–1910. (photo by Thomas Andrew)

The Samoan appellation for a male person who is not a matai is a taule'ale'a. The real meaning of the word, which is derived from the word le'ale'a (immature), is a young man who has not reached maturity. It is now-a-days applied to any male person who is not a matai. In the past the term was sometimes used to indicate that any male person, even a matai, was not an old man. In this sense, taule'ale'a signifies young or comparatively young, just as toea'ina is used to signify that a man is aged or elderly (a respectful status in Samoa) whether he be a matai or a taule'ale'a.

It is permissible for a taule'ale'a (an untitled man) to change his name as often as he wishes. A chance remark or an outstanding incident will often be the determining factor in naming a taule'ale'a. This can apply to everyone else, including females in Samoa, where a family member, especially a child, might be called a new name to commemorate an important occasion.

Disputes resolution

Disputes over matai titles which cannot be resolved among family members within the wide extended 'aiga are dealt with by the Samoa Land and Titles Court which consists of cultural and judicial experts appointed by the Supreme Court of Samoa.

The Land and Titles Court hears disputes over matai title succession as well as disagreements pertaining to customary land.[22] The court derives from the Native Land and Titles Court put in place under the colonial German administration in 1901. Samoa's political stability is thought to be due in large part to the success of this court in hearing disputes.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Fana'afi Le Tagaloa, Aiono (1986). "Western Samoa: the sacred covenant". Land Rights of Pacific Women. Institute of Pacific Studies of the University of the South Pacific. p. 103. ISBN 982-02-0012-1. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  2. ↑ White, Geoffrey Miles; Lamont Lindstrom (1997). Chiefs Today: Traditional Pacific Leadership and the Postcolonial State. Stanford University Press. p. 45. ISBN 0-8047-2851-8. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  3. 1 2 Drage, Jean (1994). New Politics in the South pacific. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific. p. 162. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Final Population and Housing Census 2011". Samoa Bureau of Statistics. July 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  5. ↑ The Cyclopedia of Samoa, McCarron, Stewart & Co., 1907, p. 29
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Tuvale, Te'o (1918). An Account of Samoan History up to 1918. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Karatnycky, Adrian (1998). Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights & Civil Liberties, 1996-1997. Transaction Publishers. p. 528. ISBN 0-7658-0422-0. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
  8. ↑ Fairbairn-Dunlop, Peggy (2003). Samoan women: widening choices. University of the South Pacific. p. 6. ISBN 982-02-0360-0. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  9. 1 2 Meleisea, Malama (1987). The Making of Modern Samoa. University of the South Pacific. ISBN 982-02-0031-8. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  10. ↑ Fana'afi Le Tagaloa, Aiono (1986). "Western Samoa: the sacred covenant". Land Rights of Pacific Women. Institute of Pacific Studies of the University of the South Pacific. p. 104. ISBN 982-02-0012-1. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "Samoa’s Sili hydro plan scuttled". Radio New Zealand International. 12 March 2004. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
  12. ↑ "Samoa department warns that sale of customary land is illegal". Radio New Zealand International. 15 May 2002. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  13. ↑ "Ancestral ways, modern voices: The Samoan path to conservation" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme, Samoa. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  14. ↑ Meleisea, Malama (1987). Lalaga: A Short History of Western Samoa. University of the South Pacific. p. 117. ISBN 982-02-0029-6. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  15. ↑ Autagavaia, Autagavaia Tipi (19 June 2008). "Moli loses Samoa's Malietoa title". Radio New Zealand International. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  16. ↑ Grattan, F.J.H. "An Introduction to Samoan Custom". NZ Electronic Text Centre. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  17. ↑ Tan, Lincoln (3 April 2010). "Asians ditch identities in hunt for jobs". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  18. ↑ Field, Michael (4 August 2007). "Winston Peters picks up illegal matai title in Samoa". LaSpecula International News. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  19. ↑ "Dick Hubbard". NZ Institute of Food Science & Technology Inc. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  20. ↑ Congressional Record: Eni F.H. Faleomavaega
  21. ↑ Terry L. Hunt, Shawn S. Barnes. "Samoa's Pre-Contact Connections in West Polynesia and Beyond" (PDF). Department of Anthropology, University of Hawai'i, Manoa. p. 227. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  22. ↑ "Samoa Lands and Titles Court to announce on Malietoa title on 18th June". Radio New Zealand International. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2010.

Further reading

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