Tuamasaga is a district

Districts of Samoa

Samoa is made up of eleven itūmālō . These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival...

 of 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...

, with a population (2001 Census) of 83,191. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part of 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...

 island.

The paramount title of Tuamasaga is the 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. The nine senior orators of Malie play a leading role in the election of the Malietoa title-holder. Given that the district of 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....

  (Manono

Manono

Manono may refer to:* Manono Island, Samoa* Manono, Democratic Republic of the Congo * Manono, the Māori name given to plants of the Coprosma species Coprosma grandifolia, found in New Zealand....

  and 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 the district 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...

 on 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...

  are two key footholds of the Aiga SaMalietoa (Malietoa clan), Malie must consult with Manono (capital of Aiga-i-le-Tai) and 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....

  (capital of Fa’asaleleaga) in the election of the Malietoa.
Once a decision is made, the village of Afega, through the chiefs Fata and Maulolo, must lead the bestowal process on behalf of the FaleTuamasaga (the parliament of Tuamasaga). Historically, the FaleTuamasaga meets at Afega (malae a Vaitoelau) in times of war, whilst it meets at Malie (malae a filemu) in times of peace. Given the administrative roles that the Afega chiefs of Fata, Maulolo, and Tuisamau play, Afega is considered the district capital, and the main venue for which the Fale Tuamasaga meets. Malie is considered the district and national capital for the Malietoa clan.

At a national level, the Malietoa title is one of the four Tama-a-Aiga titles. These are known as the noble families. Higher in traditional Samoan lineage is the Tui Atua based in Atua brother king to the Tui Manu'a. Given the pre-eminence the Malietoa title has had in recent Samoan history, this has made the district extremely important. In addition, the only urban city in the country is situated in Apia, in the north of the district. The national parliament also sits at Mulinu’u to the west of Apia, and the main seaport is situated at Matautu

Matautu

Matautu is the name of different villages in Samoa. Places named Matautu are found on the two largest islands, Upolu and Savai'i.-Matautu, Upolu Island:On Upolu island;...

  to the north of Apia around the shores of Apia harbour.

Archaeology in Samoa

Archaeology in Samoa

Archaeology of Samoa began with the first systematic survey of archaeological remains on Savai'i island by Jack Golson in 1957. Since then, surveys and studies in the rest of Samoa have uncovered major findings of settlements, stone and earth mounds including star mounds, Lapita pottery remains and...

 has uncovered earthmounds and archaeological remains at the village of Vailele

Vailele

Vailele is a village situated on the central north coast of Upolu island in Samoa.Vailele is in the electoral constituency of Vaimauga East in the larger political district of Tuamasaga....

 in the sub-district of Vaimauga, on the central north coast to the east of Apia.