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44-585: Lufilufi is the traditional center of the Atua district and is the residence of the royal Tui Atua pāpā title. Governed by the 'Faleono' (House of six) orator group, it is also vested with the authority to appoint the Tui Atua. Lufilufi's honorific salutation includes the title of 'Matua o Atua' , (the Head, or Elder of Atua). Lufilufi was part of the older territory of Falefa until the reign of Tui Atua Polailevao. A chief by

88-486: A holder of all four titles) was confined to the leading members of two families, Sā Tupua and Sā Malietoa, under whom all Samoa is united. The leading tides of these two family lineages were called tamaʻāiga ("sons of families"). By mid-19th century, the Tupua Tamasese of Sā Tupua and Malietoa of Sā Malietoa were joined by two more titles, Mataʻafa and Tuimalealiʻifano , as the four highest titleholders of Samoa. With

132-497: A lafalafatūga tulouna Leausa ne itu'au ai e alataua ai tulouna ao o Atua tulouna uso o Atua tulouna i'u o Atua tulouna le fetalaiga a Tuu'u na itu fā ai Atua tulouna le āiga Sā Levalasi tulouna le āiga Sā Fenunuivao tulouna a tulaniu o Atua. The district has a population (2016 Census) of 22,769. 13°57′S 171°38′W  /  13.950°S 171.633°W  / -13.950; -171.633 Tupua Tamasese Tupua Tamasese , formally known as Tupua ,

176-404: A prospective holder of their papa title when the title is vacant. This 'parliament' comprises the six tulafale of Lufilufi and 13 other senior matai from throughout Ātua. Of those 13 matai, nine are tulafale and four are ali'i. The members of Ātua's governing parliament form an exclusive group, as only the most senior matai in Ātua can sit in it. The Fale Atua ( 'parliament of Atua' ) decide with

220-466: Is a state dynasty and one of the four paramount chiefly titles of Samoa , known as the tama a ʻāiga . It is the titular head of one of Samoa's two great royal families – Sā Tupua, the lineage of Queen Salamasina . The current holder of the title is Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi . "Tupua" refers to Salamasina's descendant, King Tupua Fuiavailili, who was the first to unite both of Salamasina's descent lines in his personage and ascended to

264-553: Is bestowed at Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo, in Lufilufi, the capital of Ātua by the Faleono (House of six) orator group of Lufilufi, who are vested with the authority to appoint the Tui Atua and whose authority is reflected by its title as Matua o Ātua , (the elder of Ātua). These six tulafale also summon the Fale Atua (what can be called the 'parliament' of Ātua), to ascertain its members views on

308-666: Is established under Galumalemana) King Nofoasaefā (tyrant, assassinated by rebels in Savaiʻi) King Iʻamafana (allegedly willed his kingdom to Malietoa Vainuʻupo but according to the Sa Tupua family, this is not true; succeeded by Safeofafine who was killed in combat; kingship passes from the Sa Tupua line to the Leiʻataua/Tamafaigā line) 1751 - 1830: Maeaeafe Mataʻafa 1830 - 1860: Leasiolagi Moegagogo 1860s - 1891: Tui Aʻana Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Titimaea (restoration of

352-405: Is found in the genealogical line of succession tracing back to the rule of Queen Salamasina. Her descendant, Fonoti, won the civil war that led to his installation as King of Samoa. His son and successor, Muagututiʻa, married Fenunuʻivao, daughter of Leutele of Falefa . Because they had no children of their own, they adopted Fenunivao's nephew Fuiavailili (son of Fuimaono of Salani) as their son. As

396-509: Is ruled by the Tui Ātua together with the group of six senior orators of Lufilufi and 13 senior matai from throughout Ātua, comprising the Fale Ātua (or parliament of Atua). The fono (meeting) of Atua's rulers takes place in Lufilufi on the great malae of Lalogafu'afu'a. The paramount pāpā title and sovereign of Ātua is the Tui Ātua . The title traces its lineage to Pili, son of Tagaloa-a-lagi. One of

440-458: Is the Tui Atua, who both resides and has its investiture ceremony at Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo in Lufilufi. Within Lufilufi is the Faleono (House of six), six families whose orators govern Lufilufi are vested with the authority to appoint the Tui Atua. Lufilufi's Faleono and its attendant privileges mirror that of its Tumua counterpart Faleiva in Leulumoega. Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo is also where

484-505: The tama-a-aiga Tupua Tamasese title investiture ceremony is held. Lufilufi's authority in Atua is reflected by its title as Matua o Ātua , (the elder of Ātua). The six orators of Lufilufi also summon the Fale Atua (what can be called the 'parliament' of Ātua), to ascertain its members views on a prospective holder of the pāpā Tui Atua title when the title is vacant. The Fale Atua decides with

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528-459: The 1500s. Sa Malietoa rejoined at the beginning of the 19th century, coinciding with the collapse of Manono's dominance and the arrival of British missionaries. Both the tama a ʻāiga Tupua Tamasese title and the pāpā Tui Ātua mantle are currently held by Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi , a former Samoan prime minister and head of state. The origins of the Tupua (later Tupua Tamasese) title

572-862: The Sa Tupua/Salamasina lineage leads to the Tamasese appellation being used hereafter with the Tupua title to become Tupua Tamasese) 1891 - 1915: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-aʻana I, son of Tui Aʻana Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Titimaea. 1915 - 1918: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-aʻana II, eldest son of Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-aʻana I 1918 - 1929: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-oʻaʻana III ( Mau leader, assassinated by NZ Soldiers during Black Saturday), younger brother of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-aʻana II 1929 - 1963: Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole (Co-Head of State with Malietoa Tanumafili II after Independence), younger brother of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-aʻana III 1963 - 1983: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-aʻana IV (this

616-625: The Tui Ātua in matters of war and state. The Fale Atua comprises the six orators of Lufilufi as well as the respective rulers of Falefā, Solosolo, Lalomanu, Lotofaga, Luatuanu'u. Samusu, Saoluafata, Saleaumua, and also Lepā. The line of Tui Atua extends far back into the early history of Samoa, beyond that of Queen Salamasina's reign, to the sons of Pili, descendant of the Tui Manu'a (sovereign of Manu'a ). According to legend, Tagaloa-a-lagi (Samoa's supreme god), entered Upolu, Savai'i and Tonga from Manu'a island on

660-478: The Tui Ātua in matters of war and state. This 'parliament' comprises the six tulafale of Lufilufi and 13 other senior matai of Ātua - the respective rulers of Falefā, Solosolo, Saleaumua, Luatuanu'u. Samusu, Lotofaga, Saoluafata and Lepā. Of those 13 matai, nine are tulafale and four are ali'i. The members of Ātua's governing parliament form an exclusive group, as only the most senior matai in Ātua can sit in it. At various times throughout its history, Lufilufi has been

704-535: The Tupua Tamasese title, subject to the approval of Aiga Sa Fenunuivao. When a Tupua is to be appointed, the descendants of Fenunuʻivao (adoptive mother of the first Tupua) meet to decide on who should hold the mantle. The Aiga Sā Fenunuivao (Fenunuivao's descendants) are the primary political family of the Sā Tupua clan, led by the Moeono of Falefa and Tofuaʻiofoʻia of Salani. The family holds authority and custodianship of

748-686: The Tuʻi Tonga Kauʻulufonua II) and the Tui Aʻana Tamaʻalelagi. She was entrusted to the care of Levalasi Soʻoaʻemalelagi, wife of the Tui Atua Mātaʻutia. She was betrothed to marry Tonumaipeʻa Tapumanaia in order to form a political alliance with the influential Tonumaipeʻa faction in Savaiʻi. Salamasina instead, eloped with her love, Alapepe. This relationship brought forth a daughter named Fofoaivaoese, who grew to become Tuiaʻana and

792-690: The ancestress of Fonoti and Tupua. Alapepe, however, was pursued by the furious Tonumaipeʻa clan to the Tongan island of Tongatapu where he was killed for “defiling” the taupou. Salamāsina's son by Tapumanaia was named after his father and later received the Lesātele title of the Salani and Sālesātele villages in Falealili, thereafter known as Tapusatele. In a twist of fate, the lines of both Fofoaivaoese and Tapusatele - Salamasina's heirs - were reunited by Tupua Fuiavailili,

836-491: The banana tree' to examine the child's lineage). Through this careful process, it was revealed that Fuiavailili's biological father Fuimaono was both a relative of Fenunuʻivao and also a direct descendant of Queen Salamasina's second child, Tapumanaia (also known as Tapusatele). Through his ancestry and adoption, Tupua Fuiavailili united both Salamasina lineages through his biological ancestor and King Muagututiʻa's ancestor Fofoaivaoʻese, Salamasina's first child. Having satisfied

880-460: The eastern tip of the Samoan archipelago. The political divisions of Upolu are said to be traced to his son, Pili. Pili had three sons - Tua, 'Ana (who were twins) and Saga, after whom the political divisions of Upolu are named. Tua founded the political district of Ātua (literally, 'that of Tua'), which comprised the eastern third of Upolu Island. 'Ana founded Ā'ana ('that of Ana), a political district on

924-410: The eastern tip of the Samoan archipelago. The political divisions of Upolu are said to be traced to his son, Pili. Pili had three sons - Tua, 'Ana (who were twins) and Saga, after whom the political divisions of Upolu are named. Tua founded the political district of Ātua (literally, 'that of Tua'), which comprised the eastern third of Upolu Island. 'Ana founded Ā'ana ('that of Ana), a political district on

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968-486: The exception of Sā Malietoa, all are descended from Queen Salamasina, the daughter of Tui Aʻana Tamalelagi and a descendant of the Tuʻi Tonga . She became the first sovereign of all Samoa. Throughout most of Samoa's history, the root cause of civil unrest was the struggle for titular supremacy among these families.The senior of the two, Sā Tupua dominated the office since the time of its titular ancestor, Queen Salamasina, in

1012-753: The first 'Tama-a-ʻaiga) Tafaʻifā Queen Salamāsina (progenitor of Samoa's four main royal bloodlines) Tapumanaia (taken to Falealili and renamed Tapusatele; marries Sailau, daughter of Leutele, of Falefa.) Tapufautua Sifuiva Fuimaono (marries Oilau, of Faleālili.) Fuiavailili Tafaʻifā King Tupua Fuiavailili (the first Tupua and the first 'Tama-a-ʻaiga) King Tupua Fuiavailili, descendant of Queen Salamasina, adopted son of King Muagututiʻa and Fenunuivao, daughter of Leutele King Afoa (defeated in single combat by his brother, Galumalemana. Thereafter named Afoafouvale, "he who rebels for no good reason.") King Galumalemana (the Aloaliʻi as an institution of succession

1056-417: The first Tama-a-'Aiga. Tupua's biological father, Fuimaono, was a direct descendant of Tapusatele. His adoptive father, King Muagututiʻa, was a direct descendant of Fofoaivaoese. Tupua Fuiavailili was thus the first King to be descended from Queen Salamasina through both her children, Fofoaivaoese and Tapusatele. The young untitled men of Falefa have thereafter been called Tupua ma le Aumaga (literally "Tupua and

1100-480: The first known Tui Atua was Tui Atua Leutelele'i'ite of Falefa , who according to oral tradition, is said to have been part aitu (God-like) and part tagata (human-like) and lived around 1170 CE . It is from his lifetime that the known pre-European history of Samoa associated with the Tui Ātua and its holders began. The current Tui Ātua is former Prime Minister, Head of State and tama-a-aiga, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi . The two paramount matai titles of Ātua are

1144-673: The great families of Ātua . "Tamasese" refers to his descendant, Tupua Tamasese Titimaea, whose prowess in battle and generosity won favour with many of his followers and whose actions restored the Salamasina line's prestige. All subsequent Tupua title holders thus carried the two names together. The seat of the Tupua Tamasese title is at Mulinuʻu ma Sepolataʻemo in Lufilufi . Three political families make up Sā Tupua – ʻAiga o Mavaega, ʻAiga Sā Tuala and ʻAiga Sā Fenunuivao. The ʻAiga Sā Fenunuivao of Falefa and Salani holds authority and custodianship of

1188-458: The kingship of Samoa in c.1550, upon the death of his adoptive father, King Muagututiʻa. Tupua Fuiavailili was adopted by his aunt, Fenunuʻivao (daughter of Leutele and wife of King Muagututiʻa) and named as the King's successor. Tupua's rise also led to the first usage of the term tama a ʻāiga by the orator polity of Leulumoega and Lufilufi, in reference to his many genealogical connections to

1232-459: The late 1700s, the Tui Atua mantle has remained exclusively between these two, with the exception of Malietoa Vainuupo, Malietoa Moli and Sualauvi I holding it in the aftermath of multiple conflicts. Tui Atua from the time of Tafa'ifā Salamasina onwards: Tulouna 'oe Lufilufi tulouna 'oe le Tumua tulouna lo outou Faleono tulouna le afio o le Tui Atua ma Tupa'i ma Ta'inau tulouna 'Togia'i, 'o le Tui Atua ave au malaga ia te oe, Lufilufi pe

1276-590: The meeting place of Atua's leaders in Lufilufi. Tafaʻifā Queen Salamāsina (progenitor of Samoa's four main royal bloodlines) Tafaʻifā Queen Fofoaivaoese (first daughter of Queen Salamasina) Tafaʻifā Queen Taufau Asiata (daughter of Queen Fofoaivaoese) Le Tupufia (The King with only three pāpā) Faumuinā (nephew of Queen Taufau) Tafaʻifā King Fonoti (Defeats siblings for Kingship; Fagaloa, Faleapuna and Falefa are rewarded with honours) Tafaʻifā King Muagututiʻa. (marries Fenunuivao, daughter of Leutele, of Falefa.) Tafaʻifā King Tupua Fuiavailili (the first Tupua and

1320-417: The name of Velova'a (also called Tautaifau in other versions) was out fishing and having caught enough fish, prepared to head to Asau to visit his father, Tufuga. As he passed through the area, he was hailed by the Tui Atua and summoned into his residence - Mulinu'ū ma Sepolata'emo - where the boy Seleanamani was present, serving the Tui Atua. Seleanamani was then ordered to divide the fish and distribute it to

1364-404: The northern and southern coasts, the long sandy beaches of the southern coast from Aleipata to Poutasi, and the rocky coastline of Anoama'a in the north. Within Atua is the small itumalo of Va'a o Fonoti, a separate political district surrounded by Atua. The island of Tutuila is a traditional exclave of Atua and is its easternmost point located in what is now American Samoa . The Tui Atua title

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1408-419: The passing of his first cousin, former Prime Minister Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV . Moeono and Tofuaʻiofoia speak for Aiga Sa Fenunuʻivao, not only on matters pertaining to the Tupua title, but also on dealings with Samoa's other main political families, such as Sa Tuala and the other great family of Atua, Sa Levalasi. Tofuaʻiofoia and Moeono are members of the great council of Atua which meets at Lalogafuʻafuʻa,

1452-420: The place of this event as Lufilufi (which means the cutting up of food). The charter and salutations of Atua make reference to this story in its salutations to the three respective districts of Atua, salutations based upon the origins of Lufilufi: Tulouna ao o Atua (Aleipata) Tulouna uso o Atua (Anoama'a) Tulouna i'u o Atua (Itu Salefao) Lufilufi is the political centre of Atua . The sovereign of Atua

1496-496: The ranking alii of Atua, including Lufasiaitu and Mua'iteleloa of Fagaloa, Leutele of Falefa (known as Tui Atua Leuteleleiite), and the tulafale-alii polities of Fuataga and Tafua in Aleipata. From the first Tui Atua to Queen Salamasina and then from her to her descendants, the title has passed down along these lineages according to the prevalent power of the time. Since the rise of the tama-a-aiga Tupua Tamasese and later, Mata'afa in

1540-433: The requirements of having strong linkages to Samoa's royal lineages and noble families, Fuiavailili was named Tupua and proclaimed as the first Tama a 'Āiga (lit.'son of the families') by the orators of Tumua, succeeding his adoptive father as the next King. The ancestor of the Tupua Tamasese title was Samoa's first ruler to possess all four pāpā titles - Queen Salamasina. She was the daughter of Vaetofaga (a granddaughter of

1584-453: The seat of the malo - executive power. This has been contested between Lufilufi and Leulumoega throughout Samoa's history, with notable exceptions to this norm from Manono during the rule of Tamafaiga. Atua (district) Ātua is an ancient political district of Samoa , consisting of most of the eastern section of Upolu and the island Tutuila . Within Samoa's traditional polity, Ātua

1628-409: The successor of King Muagututiʻa, the orators of Tumua - the orator polity of Upolu based in Lufilufi and Leulumoega - questioned who this child was to assume such an important mantle and whether he possessed the necessary genealogical links to the great families of Samoa in order to be worthy. This inquiry is known as when "na saesae laufaʻi ai Tumua" (lit. when Tumua systematically 'ripped the leaves of

1672-510: The three great districts of Atua: Anoama'a along the northern coast, Itu Salefao along the southern coast, and Aleipata on the Easter end. The head of the fish was to be sent to Aleipata, the body to remain in Anoama'a, and the tail was given to Itu Salefao, on the south coast of Atua. Having been pleased with Seleanamani's skill at dividing the fish, the Tui Atua hailed him as Selelimalelei and designated

1716-442: The title, deciding who from among its heirs it should be bestowed upon. Once an appointment has been made, the orators of Lufilufi are informed to issue the proclamation. The current holder, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi , is a direct descendant of Fenunuʻivao, Tupua Fuiavalili, his second son Galumalemana and his grandson, Nofoasaefā, of Asau, Savaiʻi. Tupuola Efi was chosen as Tupua Tamasese by Aiga Sa Fenunuʻivao after

1760-426: The title, deciding who from among the heirs it is bestowed upon. The tama a ʻāiga comprises the maximal lineage titles of Samoa. These titles are often associated with pāpā titles, paramount district titles which affords the holder authority over an entire region or, if one acquires all four pāpā , the entirety of Samoa. The field of contention for the pāpā titles and tafaʻifa (the title used for

1804-542: The two Tama-a-aiga titles of Tupua Tamasese and Matā'afa , respectively belonging to the two main noble lineages of Ātua: Sā Fenunuivao (descendants of Salamasina through Fenunu’ivao, adoptive mother of Tupua) of Falefa and Salani; and Sā Levālasi (descendants of Levalasi, adoptive mother of Salamasina) of Amaile and Lotofaga . Both titles belong to Sā Tupua one of the two maximal lineages of Samoa. According to one legend, Tagaloa-a-lagi (the Samoan supreme god), entered Upolu, Savai'i and Tonga from Manu'a island on

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1848-422: The western third of the island. The third son, Saga, was born after the twins and so the district he founded was called Tuamasaga ('after the twin'). This was the geographical region between Ā'ana and Ātua districts. Since then, the three political districts of Upolu have been called Ātua, Ā'ana and Tuamasaga. Located on the eastern third of Upolu, the geography of Atua comprises the mountainous interior separating

1892-399: The western third of the island. The third son, Saga, was born after the twins and so the district he founded was called Tuamasaga ('after the twin'). This was the geographical region between Ā'ana and Ātua districts. Since then, the three political districts of Upolu have been called Ātua, Ā'ana and Tuamasaga. Prior to the reign of Queen Salamasina, the Tui Atua was held at different times by

1936-598: The young men"), marking the arrival of Tupua Fuiavailili to Falefa and his status as the young heir of King Muagututiʻa, which would also have entailed duties as leader of the young untitled men. To this day, these young men stand guard at every bestowal ceremony and are responsible for guarding the chiefs of Falefa and the holder of the Tupua Tamasese title. Tupua would go on to sire children through different unions, all politically important to cement his reign. From his four usuga (marriages), King Tupua Fuiavailili had five children: All aloaliʻi title holders are eligible to hold

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