Mata'afa

Group (seated, wearing white) with Wilhelm Solf, New Zealand parliamentarian Charles H. Mills and paramount chief Mata'afa Iosefo during a visit by Mills to Samoa, 1903.

Mata'afa is a high chief title^[1] in Samoa under the country's Matai system of socio-political governance where individuals are bestowed with family names.^[2] The historical seat of the Mata'afa title is in Amaile in the Atua district at the east end of Upolu island.^[3]

The title was vacant from 1977 (with the death of Mata'afa Fa'asuamaleaui Pu'ela Patu) to May 2011, when it was bestowed upon Mata'afa Tupuola Lui, "an 83 year old village chief of Amaile village".^[4]

Title holders

Holders of the Mata'afa title include;

• Mata'afa Iosefo (1832–1912), a rival for the 'kingship' of Samoa during the country's colonial era.
• Mata'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I (died 1948), a leader of Samoa's pro-independence Mau movement.
  • Was married to a daughter of high chief Malietoa Laupepa.
• Fiame Mata'afa Faumuina Mulinu’u II (1921–1975), son of Mata'afa Faumuina Fiame Mulinu'u I. First Prime Minister of Samoa.
  • Was married to Laulu Fetauimalemau Mata'afa (1928–2007).
    • Their daughter Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, a high chief and a senior cabinet minister in the Government of Samoa.

Gallery

• 
  Mata'afa Iosefo (1832 - 1912)
• 
  Fiame Naomi Mata'afa (standing, far left) at a meeting of Pacific Islands leaders with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (center), in Samoa, 26 July 2008

See also

• Fa'amatai, chieflty system of Samoa.
• Muagututi'a
• Malietoa
• Tuimaleali'ifano
• Tupua Tamasese
• Tui Manu'a
• German Samoa
• History of Samoa
• Politics of Samoa

References

1. Tradition versus democracy in the South Pacific: Fiji, Tonga, and Western Samoa by Stephanie Lawson, p. 146
2. Fana'afi Le Tagaloa, Aiono (1986). Western Samoa the Sacred Covenant. Land rights of Pacific women. University of the South Pacific;Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 103. ISBN 982-02-0012-1. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
3. Meleisea, Malama (1987). The Making of Modern Samoa. University of the South Pacific. p. 54. ISBN 982-02-0031-8. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
4. "Mata'afa paramount title in Samoa bestowed on 83 year old village chief". Radio New Zealand International. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.