Safotulafai
Encyclopedia
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.
Safotulafai is one of the traditional 'Pule' (customary authority) ruling districts of Savai'i. Chief (matai
) council meetings are held at Fuifatu malae. The sub-district includes the villages of Tuasivi
, Fusi and Fogapoa
.
(1900 - 1914), this is also the place which saw the beginnings of the Mau
, Samoa's independence movement. This initial resistance movement against German colonial rule was called the Mau a Pule. It was led by well known orator Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe
from Satotulafai.In 1909, Lauaki and other Mau a Pule supporters, including his older brother who was the holder of the 'Namulauulu' family chief title, were trialed and exiled to Saipan
by German Governor Wilhelm Solf
. Some of the Mau a Pule died in exile.
By the late 1920s, the Mau movement had gathered widespread national support under the New Zealand
administration which followed from colonial rule by Germany
.
In 1962, the country became the first Pacific nation to gain political independence, under its former name Western Samoa which formally changed to Samoa
in 1997.
on the central north coast, through the paramount chiefly title (matai
) of Letufuga. Safotulafai is always consulted by the village of Malie (Tuamasaga
district) in conjunction with Manono Island
(Aiga-i-le-Tai
district), in the election of Malietoa
title-holders.
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...
island with historical and political significance in Samoa's
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...
history. It is the traditional centre of 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...
political district.
Safotulafai is one of the traditional 'Pule' (customary authority) ruling districts of Savai'i. Chief (matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
) council meetings are held at Fuifatu malae. The sub-district includes the villages of Tuasivi
Tuasivi
Tuasivi is a village situated on the north east coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is in the electoral political district of Fa'asaleleaga.Tuasivi is the main centre for government administration on Savai'i...
, Fusi and Fogapoa
Fogapoa
Fogapoa is a village on the north east coast of Savai'i island in Samoa.The village is part of the electoral constituency Fa'asaleleaga II which is within the larger political district of Fa'asaleleaga....
.
History
In the early 1900s, during the time when the country was called German SamoaGerman Samoa
German Samoa was a German protectorate from 1900 to 1914, consisting of the islands of Upolu, Savai'i, Apolima and Manono, now wholly within the independent state Samoa, formerly Western Samoa...
(1900 - 1914), this is also the place which saw the beginnings of the Mau
Mau movement
The Mau was a non-violent movement for Samoan independence from colonial rule during the early 1900s. The word 'Mau' means 'opinion' or 'testimony' denoting 'firm strength' in Samoan...
, Samoa's independence movement. This initial resistance movement against German colonial rule was called the Mau a Pule. It was led by well known orator Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe
Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe
Lauaki Namulauulu Mamoe was a renowned orator chief and the first leader of the Mau, a resistance movement in Samoa during colonialism. Lauaki was exiled to Saipan in 1909. He died in 1915 as he was taken back to Samoa.He was from Safotulafai, the capital of Fa'asaleleaga political district on...
from Satotulafai.In 1909, Lauaki and other Mau a Pule supporters, including his older brother who was the holder of the 'Namulauulu' family chief title, were trialed and exiled to Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
by German Governor Wilhelm Solf
Wilhelm Solf
Wilhelm Heinrich Solf was a German scholar, diplomat, jurist and statesman.-Early life:Wilhelm Solf was born into a wealthy and liberal family in Berlin. He attended secondary schools in Anklam in western Pomerania and in Mannheim...
. Some of the Mau a Pule died in exile.
By the late 1920s, the Mau movement had gathered widespread national support under the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
administration which followed from colonial rule by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 1962, the country became the first Pacific nation to gain political independence, under its former name Western Samoa which formally changed to 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...
in 1997.
Matai chief titles
Safotulafai has strong traditional connections with SaleaulaSaleaula
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...
on the central north coast, through the paramount chiefly title (matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
) of Letufuga. Safotulafai is always consulted by the village of Malie (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....
district) in conjunction with Manono Island
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....
(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....
district), in the election of Malietoa
Malietoa
Malietoa is a state dynasty and chiefly title in Samoa. Literally translated as "great warrior," the title's origin comes from the final words of the Tongan warriors as they were fleeing on the beach to their boats, "Malie To`a, Malie tau"....
title-holders.