Districts of Samoa
Encyclopedia
Samoa
is made up of eleven itūmālō (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's faalupega (traditional salutations).
The capital village of each district administers and coordinates the affairs of the district and confers each districts' paramount title, amongst other responsibilities. For example, the District of A'ana has its capital at Leulumoega. The paramount title of A'ana is the TuiA'ana. The orator group which confers this title the Faleiva (House of Nine) is based at Leulumoega. This is also the same for the other districts. In the district of Tuamasaga, the paramount title of the district The Malietoa title is conferred by the FaleTuamasaga based in Afega.
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The faipule electoral districts are based loosely on the traditional sub-districts of the Itūmālō. For example, the faipule districts of Anoama'a West and Anoama'a East are based on the traditional sub-district of Anoama'a in the northern half of the Atua
district.
Apia is composed of. Apia does not have a common administration, the local power rests with the constituent villages.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
is made up of eleven itūmālō (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's faalupega (traditional salutations).
The capital village of each district administers and coordinates the affairs of the district and confers each districts' paramount title, amongst other responsibilities. For example, the District of A'ana has its capital at Leulumoega. The paramount title of A'ana is the TuiA'ana. The orator group which confers this title the Faleiva (House of Nine) is based at Leulumoega. This is also the same for the other districts. In the district of Tuamasaga, the paramount title of the district The Malietoa title is conferred by the FaleTuamasaga based in Afega.
Political districts
| Nr. | District | Capital Capital City Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman.... |
Area(km²) | Population(Census 2001) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upolu Upolu Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of... (including minor islands) |
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| 1 | Tuamasaga Tuamasaga Tuamasaga is a district of Samoa, with a population of 83,191. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part of Upolu island.... |
Afega Afega Afega is a village on the island of Upolu in Samoa. It is located on the central north coast of the island to the west of the capital Apia in the countryside... |
479 | 83,191 |
| 2 | A'ana A'ana A'ana is a district of Samoa. It is on the western half of Upolu island, with a small exclave surrounded by Aiga-i-le-Tai. It has an area of 193 km² and a population of 20,167. The main centre is Leulumoega.... |
Leulumoega Leulumoega Leulumoega is a village situated on the northwest coast Upolu island in Samoa. The village is part of the A'ana Alofi II Electoral Constituency which formas part of the larger A'ana political district.... |
193 | 20,167 |
| 3 | Aiga-i-le-Tai Aiga-i-le-Tai Aiga-i-le-Tai is a district of Samoa which includes the small islands of Manono, Apolima and tiny uninhabited Nu'ulopa lying in the Apolima Strait between the country's two main islands of Upolu and Savai'i.... 1) |
Mulifanua Mulifanua Mulifanua is a village on the north-western tip of the island of Upolu, in Samoa. In the modern era, it is the capital of Aiga-i-le-Tai district... |
27 | 4,508 |
| 4 | Atua Atua (district) Atua is the most ancient district of Samoa, now consisting of most of the eastern half of Upolu but also traditionally incorporates Tutuila and once all of Upolu and Savaii. The head of the district is the village of Lufilufi, in the western most part of Atua... 2) |
Lufilufi Lufilufi Lufilufi is a historical village situated on the north coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village is part of the electoral constituency Anoamaa East which is within the larger political district of Atua.... |
413 | 21,168 |
| 5 | Va'a-o-Fonoti Va'a-o-Fonoti Va'a-o-Fonoti is a district on the north east coast of Upolu Island in Samoa, with a population of 1,666, making it the least populated district in the country.... |
Samamea Samamea Samamea is a village on the north east coast of Upolu island in Samoa. It is the main village or 'capital' of the political district Va'a-o-Fonoti.... |
38 | 1,666 |
| Savai'i Savai'i Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose... |
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| 6 | Fa'asaleleaga Fa'asaleleaga Fa'asaleleaga is a district of Samoa situated on the eastern side of Savai'i island. It has a population of 12,949 .The traditional capital is Safotulafai where district chiefs and orators meet at Fuifatu malae... |
Safotulafai Safotulafai Safotulafai is a traditional sub-district at the east end of Savai'i island with historical and political significance in Samoa's history. It is the traditional centre of Fa'asaleleaga political district.... |
266 | 12,949 |
| 7 | Gaga'emauga Gaga'emauga Gaga'emauga is an electoral district on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. The district is situated on the central north side of Savai'i. The name Gaga'emauga literally means: “near side of the mountain” meaning the eastern side of the mountain chain running through the centre of ... 3) |
Saleaula Saleaula Sale'aula is a village on the central north coast of Savai'i island in Samoa and is the traditional center of the Gaga'emauga political district... |
223 | 7,108 |
| 8 | Gaga'ifomauga Gaga'ifomauga Gaga'ifomauga is a political district on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. The district is situated on the northern side of the island with a population of 4,770 .... |
Aopo Aopo Aopo is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. It is in the political district of Gaga'ifomauga.The village is located inland from the north coast of Savai'i, close to the main lava field from the island's volcanic cones.... |
365 | 4,770 |
| 9 | Vaisigano Vaisigano Vaisigano is a political district at the western tip of Savai'i island in Samoa. The capital of the district is Asau.This area is also referred to as 'Itu Asau' in the Samoan language.The population of Vaisigano is 6,643 .... |
Asau | 178 | 6,643 |
| 10 | Satupa'itea Satupa'itea Satupa'itea is a large village district with four sub-villages on the south east coast of Savai'i Island in Samoa.In the country's modern political divisions, Satupa'itea is also a Political District , one of 11 in the country, which now includes the traditional area of Salega.-Satupa'itea village... |
Satupa'itea Satupa'itea Satupa'itea is a large village district with four sub-villages on the south east coast of Savai'i Island in Samoa.In the country's modern political divisions, Satupa'itea is also a Political District , one of 11 in the country, which now includes the traditional area of Salega.-Satupa'itea village... |
127 | 5,556 |
| 11 | Palauli Palauli Palauli is a district and village of Samoa, with a population of 8,984. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i... |
Vailoa Vailoa Vailoa is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. Vailoa is the capital of Palauli district on the south east of the island.... |
523 | 8,984 |
| Samoa Samoa Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in... |
Apia | 2,831 | 176,848 | |
| 1) including islands Manono Manono Island Manono is an island of Samoa, situated in the Apolima Strait between the main islands of Savai'i and Upolu, 3.4 km WNW off Lefatu Cape, the westernmost point of Upolu.... , Apolima Apolima Apolima is the smallest of the four inhabited islands of Samoa and situated in the Apolima Strait, between the country's two largest islands Upolu to the east and Savai'i to the west.... and Nu'ulopa Nu'ulopa Nu'ulopa is a small uninhabited island in the Apolima Strait between the islands of Upolu and Savai'i in Samoa. The island is part of Aiga-i-le-Tai district.... |
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| 2) including the Aleipata Islands Aleipata Islands The Aleipata Islands is a group of four uninhabited islands off the eastern end of Upolu Island, Samoa, with an aggregate area of 1.68 km²):*Nu'utele *Nu'ulua *Namua *Fanuatapu... and Nu'usafe'e Island |
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| 3) smaller parts also on Upolu Upolu Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of... (Salamumu (incl. Salamumu-Utu) and Leauvaa villages) |
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Exclaves of political districts
Note that several districts include multiple exclaves:- Gaga'emaugaGaga'emaugaGaga'emauga is an electoral district on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. The district is situated on the central north side of Savai'i. The name Gaga'emauga literally means: “near side of the mountain” meaning the eastern side of the mountain chain running through the centre of ...
: besides the main part on Savai'iSavai'iSavaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
, there are two small exclaves on UpoluUpoluUpolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
(Salamumu (incl. Salamumu-Uta) and Leauva'a villages) this is the only district with areas on both main islands - Satupa'iteaSatupa'iteaSatupa'itea is a large village district with four sub-villages on the south east coast of Savai'i Island in Samoa.In the country's modern political divisions, Satupa'itea is also a Political District , one of 11 in the country, which now includes the traditional area of Salega.-Satupa'itea village...
: consists of two separate areas on the south side of Savai'iSavai'iSavaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose... - PalauliPalauliPalauli is a district and village of Samoa, with a population of 8,984. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i...
: consists of two separate areas on the south side of Savai'iSavai'iSavaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose... - A'anaA'anaA'ana is a district of Samoa. It is on the western half of Upolu island, with a small exclave surrounded by Aiga-i-le-Tai. It has an area of 193 km² and a population of 20,167. The main centre is Leulumoega....
: besides the main part, there is a small exclave (Satuimalufilufi village) - Va'a-o-FonotiVa'a-o-FonotiVa'a-o-Fonoti is a district on the north east coast of Upolu Island in Samoa, with a population of 1,666, making it the least populated district in the country....
: besides the main part, there is a small exclave (Faleāpuna village) - Aiga-i-le-TaiAiga-i-le-TaiAiga-i-le-Tai is a district of Samoa which includes the small islands of Manono, Apolima and tiny uninhabited Nu'ulopa lying in the Apolima Strait between the country's two main islands of Upolu and Savai'i....
: includes the islands ManonoManono IslandManono is an island of Samoa, situated in the Apolima Strait between the main islands of Savai'i and Upolu, 3.4 km WNW off Lefatu Cape, the westernmost point of Upolu....
, ApolimaApolimaApolima is the smallest of the four inhabited islands of Samoa and situated in the Apolima Strait, between the country's two largest islands Upolu to the east and Savai'i to the west....
and Nu'ulopaNu'ulopaNu'ulopa is a small uninhabited island in the Apolima Strait between the islands of Upolu and Savai'i in Samoa. The island is part of Aiga-i-le-Tai district.... - AtuaAtuaAtua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian peoples such as the Māori. The Polynesian word literally means power or strength and so the concept is similar to that of mana...
: includes the Aleipata IslandsAleipata IslandsThe Aleipata Islands is a group of four uninhabited islands off the eastern end of Upolu Island, Samoa, with an aggregate area of 1.68 km²):*Nu'utele *Nu'ulua *Namua *Fanuatapu...
and Nu'usafe'e island
Electoral districts
The itūmālō are further subdivided in 41 faipule districts. They have no administrative function, but serve as electoral constituencies. The faipule districts are also used as regional units for statisticsStatistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
.
The faipule electoral districts are based loosely on the traditional sub-districts of the Itūmālō. For example, the faipule districts of Anoama'a West and Anoama'a East are based on the traditional sub-district of Anoama'a in the northern half of the Atua
Atua (district)
Atua is the most ancient district of Samoa, now consisting of most of the eastern half of Upolu but also traditionally incorporates Tutuila and once all of Upolu and Savaii. The head of the district is the village of Lufilufi, in the western most part of Atua...
district.
Villages
At the local level, there are 265 villages. Additionally, there are some 45 villages the capitalCapital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
Apia is composed of. Apia does not have a common administration, the local power rests with the constituent villages.
