Falefa

Falefa is one of the oldest and largest villages in Samoa,[5] with its traditional borders stretching from Uafato to Saoluafata. Oral tradition and archaeological evidence from the nearby Sasoa'a Lapita discovery site in the Falefa valley place the date of settlement in the area to as far back as to somewhere between 300B.C - 200 A.D.[6] In later times, portions of these lands were gifted by subsequent rulers to form the settlements of Lufilufi, Lalomauga, Saletele, Falevao and Faleapuna. These villages are historically tied to Falefa through their founding and centuries of intricate political interactions. [7]

According to oral tradition, Falefa was founded by the two sons of Tui Atua Mua’iteleloa and Leateafaiga, daughter of Lufasiaitu of Uafato, Fagaloa - Moe'ono'ono Faleologa (or Moe'ono) & his younger brother Leutele Leutogitui. Since then, Falefa has been headed by the descendants of these two brothers who hold the respective Moeono and Leutele titles.[8] Leaving their birthplace at Uafato (Fagaloa) and obeying their fathers wishes, they established their first settlement at the top of mountains overlooking Fagaloa Bay and the Falefa valley, called Manuao.

This was later moved down to its present site at the northern edge of the Falefa valley. It was from this vantage point atop Manuao that the warriors of Moeono and Leutele descended in a surprise attack on the Tongan forces anchored at Fagaloa Bay, foiling Leifi and Tautolo's plot to have Queen Salamasina kidnapped and taken to Tonga.[6]

Falefa is administered and governed by both Matua (senior orators) Moeono and 'Iuli, with Leutele as the ranking alii of Falefa, addressed as Tinā o Tupua (Tupua's Mother), honoring the first Tupua's mother Fenunuivao and maternal Grandfather, Leutele.

The size of Falefa was such that a centralised location was needed to rule from and so Moeono created 'O le Faleupolu o Sagapolu' - the administrative centre from which the seat of Moeono and his successors continue to govern Falefa from the Moeono residence known as 'Laloaoa' down to the present day. Other sub-villages followed; Saleapaga followed by Sagogu and Gagaeimalae. Moeono and Leutele bestowed titles on prominent houses and established 'vassal' houses to serve Moeono and Leutele and assist with the administration of the growing district.

The brothers and their respective heirs traveled extensively throughout their dominion - from Lemafatele (known as Le Mafa Pass today) to Sasoa'a (where Lapita pottery remains have been found),[6] to Fagaloa and the mountains overlooking the valley below where the village of Falefa stands today.

One of the early kings of Samoa was Faumuina, a direct descendant of Queen Salamasina. He had three children, two sons and one daughter. The sons were named Fonoti and Vaafusuaga and the daughter was named Samalaulu. They are commonly known in the traditions of Samoa as “The Three of Faumuina.” Each child was by a different mother so that after the death of their father they individually contended for the Kingship.[9]

Having waged war successfully for the crown against his kin, Fonoti was ultimately proclaimed King in c.1520.[10] He conferred many honours upon those chiefs and Districts that had fought for him and such honours and privileges are remembered and passed down by Samoa's Tulafale (Orator chiefs) down to the present day.

For contending with Manono, Sapapali'i and Saleaaumua naval forces and securing his victory at sea, the leaders of Faleapuna and Fagaloa were granted a district of their own called Vaa-o-Fonoti (literally, Fonoti's canoe). For leading his land forces and securing victory on land, Falefa was designated the honour of serving as the national capital and was given the salutation of Aai o Fonoti, Aai o le Tupu (Fonoti's city, city of the King).[9] Falefa continued as the administrative centre of Fonoti, Muagututi'a and Tupua's respective malo until the time of Fonoti's grandson, King Afoa (later Afoafouvale), who chose to rule from Lufilufi.[3]

These honors are reflected to this day in the Fa'alupega o Samoa (customary honorific salutations of Samoa) of the respective villages and in those of Falefa (see below).

During the 17th century, continued wars between the Falefa and surrounding districts had taken its toll. 'Iuli was rewarded by Moeono for having the courage to speak for peace and was subsequently granted the position of honour, elevated to becoming the one of the two preeminent senior tulafale of Falefa, assisting Moe'ono'ono and Leutele with the administration of the Falefa as well as in their dealings with the rest of Samoa.[9]

Mau leader Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III. Appointed by Falefa and Salani's Aiga Sā Fenunuivao.[4]

The pāpā titles confer upon individual holders authority over designated territory (Tui Atua rules Atua, Tui A'ana rules A'ana etc.) or, in the case of a Tafa'ifā (holder of all four pāpā titles) status as King or Queen of all Samoa. However, these titles are usually contested exclusively among Samoa's four royal lineages, each with a paramount title holder whom the lineage is named after. These are called Tama-a-aiga ('sons of the families'). Tupua Tamasese is one of these paramount titles.[11]

King Muagututi'a, son of King Fonoti, married Fenunuivao, daughter of Leutele of Falefa. Because they had no children of their own, they adopted Fuiavailili from Salani as their son. Upon his arrival in Falefa, he was given the name 'Tupua' and was thereafter known as Tupua Fuiavailili, the first Tama-a-'aiga.[3]

As the child was now the sole heir to Muagututi'a, the orators performed their customary right of saesae laufa'i, questioning who this child was to assume such an important mantle and investigating whether he possessed the necessary genealogical links to the great families of Samoa in order to be worthy. Thus it was revealed that Fuiavailili's biological father was Fuimaono, and biological mother Sa'ilau, descendants of Fanene and direct descendants of Queen Salamasina's son and second child, Tapumanaia.[12] Tupua's adoptive father, King Muagututi'a, was descended from Queen Salamāsina's eldest child, Fofoaivao'ese. Thus it was that Tupua Fuiavailili, through both ancestry and adoption, was the first ruler of Samoa to have inherited from both of Queen Salamāsina's children, re-uniting the Salamasina lineages through his ancestor, Tapumanaia, Salamāsina's husband (from the Fuimaono and Fanene line), and Muagututi'a's ancestor Fofoaivao'ese, Salamasina's daughter with from a previous relationship with Alapepe, (from the Muagututi'a line). Having satisfied the requirements of having direct lineage to Salamāsina and demonstrable link to both lineages and prominent families, Tupua Fuiavailili was proclaimed first Tama a 'Āiga (lit.'son of the families') and succeeded Muagututi'a to become King in c.1550.[3]

Samoa's first ruler to possess all four pāpā titles and therefore become Queen was Salamasina, daughter of Vaetofaga (a granddaughter of the Tu'i Tonga Kau'ulufonua II) and the Tui A'ana Tamaalelagi. She was entrusted to the care of Levalasi So'oa'emalelagi, wife of the Tui Atua Māta'utia. She was betrothed to marry Tonumaipe'a Tapumanaia in order to form a political alliance with the influential Tonumaipe'a faction in Savai'i. Salamasina instead, eloped with her love, Alapepe. This relationship brought forth a daughter named Fofoaivaoese, who grew to become Tuia‘ana and the ancestress of several prominent Samoan families.[13]

Alapepe, however, was pursued by the furious Tonumaipe‘a 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.[13]

In a twist of fate, the lines of both Fofoaivaoese and Tapusatele - Salamasina's heirs - were reunited by Tupua Fuiavailili, the first Tama-a-'Aiga. Tupua's biological father, Fuimaono, was a direct descendant of Tapusatele. His adoptive father, King Muagututi'a, 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 the young men"), marking the arrival of Tupua Fuiavailili to Falefa and his status as the young heir of King Muagututi'a, 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.

Queen Salamāsina (progenitor of Samoa's four main royal bloodlines)

Queen Fofoaivaoese (first daughter of Queen Salamasina)

Queen Taufau Asiata (daughter of Queen Fofoaivaoese)

King Faumuinā (nephew of Queen Taufau)

King Fonoti (Defeats siblings for Kingship; Falefa is rewarded and named as Fonoti's capital during this time.)

King Muagututi'a. (marries Fenunuivao, daughter of Leutele, of Falefa.)

No children. *Fuiavailili is brought to Falefa and named heir to King Muagututi'a, Tupua Fuiavailili.

King Tupua Fuiavailili (the first Tupua and the first 'Tama-a-'aiga)

Queen Salamāsina (progenitor of Samoa's four main royal bloodlines)

Tapumanaia Tapusatele (marries Sailau Fenunuivao, daughter of Leutele, of Falefa.)

Sifuiva

Fuimaono

Fuiavailili

*Fuiavailili is taken to Falefa and named, Tupua Fuiavailili.

Tafa'ifā (King) Tupua Fuiavailili (the first Tupua and the first 'Tama-a-'aiga)

The beginnings of the Tama-a-Aiga Matā'afa lineage is traced through to Luafalemana, son of King Tupua Fuiavailili.[5] This was enabled through the union of Luafalemana's daughter, Salaina'oloa of 'Aiga Sā Fenunuivao with Tuimavave (also known as Tauili'ili) of 'Aiga Sā Levālasi , issuing one of the progenitors of the Matā'afa title, Fa'asuamale'aui, in 1785.[4] Tuimavave's other union with Letelesa issued the another progenitor of the title, Silupevailei. These two lines of Fa'asuamale'aui and Silupevailei are from whom all Mata'afa are selected.

Family traditions differ on who was the first Mata'afa, but the majority of opinion favours Tafagamanu, grandson of Fa'asuamale'aui.[4]

Tuimavave's union with Tupua's grand-daughter, Salaina'oloa, has resulted in the Luafalemana title's association with both the Tupua Tamasese and the Matā'afa titles. Several Matā'afa holders from Falefa also held the Tupua title concurrently, like Matā'afa Iosefo who became known as Tupua Matā'afa Iosefo.[5] By joining the daughter of Luafalemana with Tuimavave, the Tui Atua line arrives at a harmonious junction between the two great tama-a-'aiga families of Atua - 'Aiga Sā Levālasi and 'Aiga Sā Fenunuivao.

When the Tama a 'Āiga, Tupua Tamasese is to be chosen, both Moeono and Tofua'iofoia (of Salani village)[4] summon the Aiga' Sa Fenunu'ivao (Descendants of Fenunu'ivao, the first Tupua's mother) to decide on who should hold the mantle. Once a new Tupua is chosen, the coronation takes place at his seat in Lufilufi. The current holder, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, was chosen after the passing of his uncle, former Prime Minister Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV.[4]

Both Moeono and Tofua'iofoia speak for Aiga Sa Fenunu'ivao, not only on matters pertaining to the Tupua title, but also on dealings with other aiga, such as Sa Tuala and Sa Levalasi. They are also members of the great council of Atua which meets at Lalogafu'afu'a, the meeting place of Atua's leaders in Lufilufi.[3]

Upon the death of a Moeono or Leutele, the district goes into an extended period of mourning and kicks off the procession of cultural protocol which follows. During this sede vacante period, the administration of Falefa is then passed to 'Iuli, Lealaisalanoa, Alai'asā and Falefa's other matai alii (senior chiefs of each families) until a Moeono or Leutele is appointed.

At the appointed time when an heir has been chosen, the proceedings of the saofa'i (bestowment ceremony) stipulate that only the two bearers of the titles of the two brothers - Moeono and Leutele - are part of this sacred ritual. Only once it has been completed with the completion of the 'ava ceremony and the title bestowed will 'Iuli lead the rest of the village chiefs in to the residence to join them (usu le nuu). The ceremony itself is guarded by Tupua ma le Aumaga (the name for Falefa's untitled men's guild).

The last holder of the Leutele title was Leutele Tapusatele Keli Tuatagaloa. The late Moeono Leateafaiga Atoafuaiupolu Tomanogi Penitito Alaiasa is the most recent holder of the Moeono title, which he held until his passing in 2018. Unlike the Leutele and other titles of Falefa, the Moeono line has enjoyed a revered tradition of only ever having a single holder of the Moeono at any given time. Thus the most recent holder was the 16th of his name, with known successors of the current line stretching back further to the brief intervention from Saoluafata and to antiquity.

As of 2018, both titles remain vacant pending appointment of the new holders by the respective heirs.

The Tui Tonga (ruler of Tonga) had two sons. The elder was named Tuitonga after his father, the younger, Lautivunia. Lautivunia had an affair with his brother's wife. When the affair became known, the older brother was very angry.

As is the custom, the younger brother made a peace offering of cooked food wrapped in tolo (ordinary sugar cane) and fiso (wild sugar cane) leaves. These leaves underlined the message, ‘Please forgive me, for we are brothers.’

But Tuitoga was not placated and Lautivunia made another peace offering, which included the flesh of ordinary bananas and of the lei (wild banana). The two varieties of banana underlined the message, ‘We are flesh and blood – surely you can find it in your heart to forgive me?’ Tuitoga was still not placated. So Lautivunia decided that if his brother would not accept his food offerings he would offer his life. He dug a hole where his catamaran was housed, fixed spears with points upward at the bottom of the hole, and threw himself on the spears. The force of his action caused the surrounding earth and sand to cave in and cover him.

When Lautivunia's disappearance was noticed, his father and brother sent out search parties to look for him. One party reached Falefa, Samoa. Tui Atua Leutele said, ‘You need not have come so far. Lautivunia is in Tonga under his catamaran.’

So the search party returned to Tonga and found the body of Lautivunia. The Tui Toga felt obliged to reciprocate this favour from Tui Atua Leutele and instructed the search party to return to Samoa with the finest of his fine mats, which he named Le Ageagea o Tumua (the substance of Tumua). In addition, he recognised Tui Atua Leutele's seer abilities by naming him Leutele Leiite, that is, Leutele with the prophetic powers.

The title of Leiite survives today as one of the titles of the Sā Leutele family.[16]

In later centuries, a great war between Tuamasaga and the two allies, Atua and A'ana ravaged the country. Having been defeated, Malietoa Uitualagi and the Tuamasaga army sought refuge at Ana o Seuao in Sa'anapu, Safata. Atua and A'ana forces gave chase and as they arrived at Ana, prepared to complete their victory by burning the entire region and killing off the rest of Malietoa's troops. To their surprise however, an elderly unnamed chief from Tuamasaga approached their war party, beseeching them to turn back from their aim and to have mercy on their defeated foes. Moved by the old man's courage, a young chief named 'Iuli rose to speak in what is now known as the longest lauga (formal oratory) in Samoan history, admonishing his side for two days and two nights to agree to peace with Malietoa's defeated Tuamasaga force. Grateful for this agreement, Malietoa Uitualagi gave the island of Tutuila to Atua. [17] For his efforts in ending the conflict, 'Iuli was promoted to the rank of 'Matua' by Moeono as a reward for his bravery. Today, his descendant governs Falefa alongside Moeono.

In the early days of the Mau movement, Luafalemana Moeono Ta'ele resigned from his post at the administration's Native Police to assist with efforts to garner national support for the fledgling independence movement. As Pule (the orators and polity heads of Savaii) were yet to pledge their unanimous support, Luafalemana Moeono Ta'ele was tasked with leading a fleet of fautasi (canoes) together with Upolu's orators to ask for Savaii's support. Choosing to arrive at Satupa'itea instead of Sale'aula, Moeono recalled Falefa's earlier support for the Mau a Pule [18] (which Savaii's orators had led during the German administration, a precursor to the Mau Movement) and called on Asiata to have Pule (Savaii's chief orators and counterpart to Upolu's Tumua) reciprocate their solidarity by joining forces with them in order to further strengthen the cause for independence.

His son, Moeono Alai'asā Kolio OBE, would later become one of the Framers of the Constitution of the newly Independent State of Western Samoa.[19]

Moamoa, o le tua o Lalogafu'afu'a.

Moeono - Laloaoa

Leutele - Vai'ili'ili ma Fogāvaiuta

Lealaisalanoa - Vaie'e

Alai'asā - Gataivai

Suluvave - Malae

Leutele - Sailau

Salanoa - Fenunuivao

Luafalemana - Salaina'oloa

Alai'asa - Punipuao

Suluvave - Aova'a[20]

The current holder, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi. Appointed by Falefa and Salani's 'Aiga Sa Fenunuivao to be the holder of the Tama Aiga title in 1986.

Falefa and the Tupua Tamasese have a long history, dating back to when the first Tupua was installed at Falefa. In terms of succession to the title, the family has been among the least controversial of all Tama a 'Āiga families. Family consensus decided successors rather than the court. However, these amicable relations were eventually fractured in 1965 when a major split appeared over the successor to Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole, who died in 1963. Two first cousins and sons of previous holders vied for the title and the family was forced to resort to the court for a settlement.[4]

The family had been unable to agree between two candidates, Lealofi IV, the son of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III, and Tufuga Efi, the son of Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole.[4] The two men were first cousins, and their fathers had both held the titles. Both were installed at separate ceremonies, Lealofi IV by 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao of Falefa and Salani, and Tufuga Efi by 'Āiga o Mavaega of Faleasi'u and Asau in Savai'i and by a branch of 'Āiga Sā Tuala from Fasito'outa. The latter's installation took 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao by surprise and was immediately met with stern rejection.

Both candidates were genealogically eligible, being descended from their common ancestor, Tupua Fuiavailili.[21] However, Lealofi had the advantage of having the unanimous support of 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao, the title's main political family, on the grounds that his father was older then Tufuga Efi's father and he himself was the elder candidate. The subsequent court battle saw a unanimous endorsement of Lealofi IV's appointment.[14] However, Tufuga Efi's supporters returned to the court to press two more lines of argument. First they argued that the title should be appointed and conferred by the suli (heirs of descendants). 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao agreed, but pointed out their right to step in and decide, especially seeing as there would inevitably be disagreement among descendants and pointing to the fact that the descendants themselves were part of the wider Fenunuivao family, a view also endorsed by the court. Second, Tufuga's supporters argued that the conjugate titles be split in two; they argued that the Tamasese name constituted a title in its own right and urged the court to award the Tupua title to Lealofi and the Tamasese title to Tufuga Efi. However, the court rejected this argument on the grounds that without Tupua, Tamasese could not be constituted as a title and that Tupua without Tamasese would disqualify Tupua from the rank of a Tama a 'Āiga.[4]

The court ruled in favour of 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao's candidate, Lealofi IV who would go on to be elected Prime Minister of Samoa.[22]

Upon Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV's death in 1983, the question as to a successor was raised yet again with Tupuola Efi once again staking his claim. However, this would require 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao agreeing to his appointment. Salani agreed however, Falefa and Lufilufi opposed. Nevertheless, Tupuola Efi proceeded without the unanimous support of Āiga Sā Fenunuivao. On the morning of his installation ceremony at Vaimoso, the nation's public broadcaster, Radio 2AP, read an announcement from the Moeono at the time, Moeono Alai'asā Kolio, notifying the country that 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao as well as the leaders of Lufilufi - the traditional seat of the Tupua Tamasese title - had not sanctioned Tupuola Efi's ascension to the title, effectively nullifying the candidate's grasp for the title yet again.

In 1986, Tupuola Efi approached the now ailing Moeono to ask for Āiga Sā Fenunuivao's unanimous blessing. Despite their initial refusal, both Falefa and Lufilufi eventually agreed. Thus 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao joined with 'Āiga o Mavaega and 'Āiga Sā Tuala to jointly confer the Tupua Tamasese title on Tupuola Efi in an installation ceremony at Vaimoso in November, 1986, jointly registering the title under their family names.[4]

However, the right of joint conferral was later challenged in court. The matter was decisively settled when in 1987, the court ruled that the right of conferral of the Tupua Tamasese title belonged exclusively to 'Āiga Sā Fenunuivao of Falefa and Salani, based on the customary criteria of descent, relevant knowledge and skill, residence and service.[14]

King Tupua Fuiavailili, descendant of Queen Salamasina, son of King Muagututi'a and grandson of King Fonoti.

King Afoa (defeated in single combat by his brother, Galumalemana. Thereafter named Afoafouvale, "he who rebels for no good reason.")

King Galumalemana (the Aloalii as an institution of succession is established under Galumalemana)

King Nofoasaefā (tyrant, assassinated by rebels in Savai'i)

King I'amafana

Maeaeafe Matā'afa

1751 - 1830: Tupua Leasiolagi Moegagogo

1830 - 1860s: Tupua Pulepule

1860s - 1891: Tupua Tamasese Titimaea (this is the first time Tamasese is added to the Tupua title)

1891 - 1915: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana I, son of Tupua Tamasese Titimaea.

1915 - 1918: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana II, eldest son of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana I

1918 - 1929: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o'a'ana III (Mau leader, assassinated by NZ Soldiers during Black Saturday), younger brother of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana II

1929 - 1963: Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole (Co-Head of State with Malietoa Tanumafili II after Independence), younger brother of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana III

1963 - 1983: Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana IV (Third Prime Minister of Samoa), son of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi-o-a'ana III

1986–present: Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi [3] (Former Prime Minister and Head of State 2007-2017), son of Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole.

Luafalemana Leo’o

Luafalemana Tupua Puta

Luafalemana Fagavale

Luafalemana Taua’aletoa Taligamaivalu Leala’iasalanoa

Luafalemana Moeono Alai'asā Taeleomoamoa (Taele)

(also bestowed to two other holders by Luafalemana Taele Moeono, later returned)

• Luafalemana Aukusitino

• Luafalemana Eseese

Present: Vacant

1855 - 1915: Moeono Sufalī Luafalemana Taligamaivalu.

1915 - 1916: Moeono Faita Tailalo

1916 - 1957: Luafalemana Moeono Alai'asā Taeleomoamoa (Taele)

1957 - 1987: Moeono Alai'asā Kolio

1987 - 2018: Moeono Atoamafuaiupolu Penitito Alai'asā

2018–present: vacant

Iuli Tapa

Iuli Veni

Iuli Sefo I

Iuli Sefo II

Iuli Polailevao Moananu Salale

Leutele Malota I

Leutele Malota II

Leutele Upuolevavau

Leutele Faletui

Leutele Poutoa

Leutele Taumoumea

Leutele Simaile Tuatagaloa

Leutele Lutu

1940 - 2012: Leutele Tapusatele Keli Tuatagaloa

2012–present: Vacant