Matautu
Encyclopedia
Matautu is the name of different villages in Samoa
. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, Upolu
and Savai'i
.
island;
, Matautu is a large village district on the central north coast in the electoral constituency of Gaga'emauga
. Matautu is made up of smaller pito-nu'u villages including Fagamalo
, Avao
, Lelepa
, Safa'i
and Saleia
. In more recent history Sato'alepai
has become part of Matautu. Situated inland from Lelepa are Vaipouli College
and Itu-o-Tane High School. Matautu share strong kinship and cultural ties as well as natural resources including water which is piped from an inland river at Vaipouli.
During the late 1800s and the colonial era of Samoa, Fagamalo, which had a wharf and anchorage, became the main government administration centre on Savai'i. The centre included a hospital, school and court houses. Tui Fiti
a spirit deity in Samoan mythology
resides in a sacred grove vao sa in Fagamalo.
The Reverend George Pratt (1817–1894), a missionary of the London Missionary Society
lived in Matautu for many years. Pratt authored the first Samoan English language dictionary A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan Vocabulary, first printed in 1862.
According to oral history, Matautu is the district which takes the lead in the attack during war. Matautu is also said to have been settled by Fijians or people from a place called Fiti.
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...
. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, 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...
and 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...
.
Matautu, Upolu Island
On UpoluUpolu
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...
island;
- Matautu, a village located on the central north coast of the island to the east of the capital Apia. Apia Harbor, the country's main port is located in Matautu. The village has been subdivided into two parts. Matautu-tai (coastal) and Matautu-uta (inland). Matautu-tai is led by High Chief To'omalatai. Legend has it that wayfarers and travelers by sea must stop and give offerings to the To'omalatai before safe passage was allowed by Moaula the village guardian. Moaula is amongst the most revered spirits of Samoa.
- Matautu village (Lefaga)Matautu village (Lefaga)Matautu is a village in the large traditional settlement of Lefaga in Samoa. The village is situated on the south west coast of Upolu island and lies within the political district of A'ana.The population is 858 ....
, a sub-village or pito-nu'u of LefagaLefagaLefaga is a village district on the south west coast of the island of Upolu in Samoa. The American movie Return to Paradise , starring Gary Cooper was filmed at Matautu village in Lefaga...
, situated south west coast. The film location of Return to Paradise (1953 film)Return to Paradise (1953 film)Return to Paradise is a South Seas drama film released by United Artists in 1953. The film was directed by Mark Robson and starred Gary Cooper, Barry Jones, and Roberta Haynes. It was based on a short story Mr. Morgan by James Michener in his short story collection Return to Paradise, his sequel to...
starring Gary CooperGary CooperFrank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
.
Matautu, Savai'i Island
On the island of Savai'iSavai'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...
, Matautu is a large village district on the central north coast in the electoral constituency of 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 ...
. Matautu is made up of smaller pito-nu'u villages including Fagamalo
Fagamalo
Fagamalo is a village situated on the central north coast of Savai'i in Samoa. It is a sub-village or pito nu'u of the larger traditional village enclave of Matautu in the political district of Gaga'emauga....
, Avao
Avao
Avao is a village on the north central coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga III, which is included in the larger political district of Gaga'emauga....
, Lelepa
Lelepa
Situated by the sea, Lelepa is a village on the north central coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga III which forms part of the larger political district of Gaga'emauga....
, Safa'i
Safa'i
Safa'i is a village on the north central coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga III which forms part of the larger political district Gaga'emauga....
and Saleia
Saleia
Saleia is a village on the north central coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Gaga'emauga III which forms part of the larger political district of Gaga'emauga....
. In more recent history Sato'alepai
Sato'alepai
Sato'alepai is a village situated on the central north coast of the island of Savai'i in Samoa. Sato'alepai is in the political district of Gaga'emauga....
has become part of Matautu. Situated inland from Lelepa are Vaipouli College
Vaipouli College
Vaipouli College is a secondary school on Savai'i island in Samoa. The college is co-educational, open to male and female students from Year 9 - 13...
and Itu-o-Tane High School. Matautu share strong kinship and cultural ties as well as natural resources including water which is piped from an inland river at Vaipouli.
During the late 1800s and the colonial era of Samoa, Fagamalo, which had a wharf and anchorage, became the main government administration centre on Savai'i. The centre included a hospital, school and court houses. Tui Fiti
Tui Fiti
Tui Fiti or Tuifiti is the name of a figure referred to in different legends in Samoan mythology and in other parts of Polynesia. In other stories,'Tui Fiti' means 'high chief of Fiti.'-Savai'i:...
a spirit deity in Samoan mythology
Samoan mythology
Samoan mythology tell stories of many different gods. There were gods of the forest, the seas, rain, harvest, villages and war. There were two types of gods, atua who had non-human origins and aitu who were of human origin. Tagaloa was a supreme god who made the islands and the people. Mafui'e was...
resides in a sacred grove vao sa in Fagamalo.
The Reverend George Pratt (1817–1894), a missionary of the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
lived in Matautu for many years. Pratt authored the first Samoan English language dictionary A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan Vocabulary, first printed in 1862.
According to oral history, Matautu is the district which takes the lead in the attack during war. Matautu is also said to have been settled by Fijians or people from a place called Fiti.