Tamaʻāiga (meaning "sons of the families", alternatively spelled Tama-a-Aiga) is a Samoan term used to refer to the four high chiefly titles in the faʻamatai system – specifically, the Malietoa, Mataʻafa, Tupua Tamasese and Tuimalealiʻifano.
History
editThe term first emerged in the last quarter of the 19th century and formalized the status of the four then-dominant high chiefly dynasties – Malietoa, Mataʻafa, Tupua Tamasese, and Tuimalealiʻifano. The tamaʻāiga co-existed with the older concept of pāpā, which covered the four previously dominant dynastic titles of Gatoaʻitele, Tamasoaliʻi, Tui Aʻana, and Tui Ātua. From the 16th century, these four pāpā titles, if held jointly by the same person, made that person the tafaʻifa, or paramount chief. Two notable tafaʻifa cases were Nāfanua and Salamāsina, although this title ceased to be in common usage during the 19th century, when new lineages of matai rose to prominence.[1][2]
Since the independence of Samoa in 1962, the position of head of state (O le Ao o le Malo) has always been held by one of the tamaʻāiga, in accordance with convention. Two other high chiefs – Fiamē Mataʻafa Faumuina Mulinuʻu II and Tupua Tamasese Lealofi IV – also each served as prime minister of Samoa.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Tuimalealiʻifano, Morgan A. (2006). O tama a ʻāiga: The politics of succession to Sāmoa's paramount titles. Suva, Fiji: University of the South Pacific. ISBN 978-982-02-0377-8.
- ^ Schoeffel, Penelope (1987). "Rank, gender and politics in ancient Samoa: The genealogy of Salamāsina O Le Tafaifā". The Journal of Pacific History. 22 (4): 174–193. doi:10.1080/00223348708572566. ISSN 0022-3344.
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