Samoa

The islands of Samoa were settled about 3,000 years ago by seafarers of the Lapita culture, and Samoa is often regarded as one of the cradles of Polynesian culture. Over the centuries a complex social order developed, t…

Aiga-i-le-Tai takes in the small islands of Manono and Apolima and the tiny uninhabited Nuʻulopa, lying in the Apolima Strait between Upolu and Savaiʻi, together with part of the mainland at the western end of Upolu. Ma…

Tradition traces the political divisions of Upolu to Pili, son of Tagaloa-a-lagi: his son ʻAna founded Āʻana on the western third of the island, while his brothers gave their names to Ātua in the east and Tuamasaga in b…

The paramount matai title of Tuamāsaga is the Malietoa, one of the four Tama-a-Aiga titles of the country; led by Auimatagi, Sa Malietoa and the nine senior orators of Malie choose the titleholder at Niuʻula in Malie, c…

Vaʻa-o-Fonoti is the least populated district in Samoa and, after Aiga-i-le-Tai, the second smallest by area: just 38 square kilometres with 1,621 residents at the 2016 census. It lies on the north-east coast of Upolu a…

According to tradition, Tagaloa-a-lagi entered Upolu, Savaiʻi and Tonga from Manuʻa, and the political divisions of Upolu trace back to his son Pili, whose three sons gave them their names: Tua founded Ātua, 'that of Tu…

The traditional capital of Faʻasaleleaga, Safotulafai, where district chiefs and orators gather at the Fuifatu malae, was the main base of the Mau a Pule resistance movement against colonial rule. From it grew the natio…

Palauli lies in two sections on the southern side of Savaiʻi, and its best-known feature is natural: lava tubes formed in the island's volcanic rock have created the Taga blowholes on the coast at Taga village, where th…

Satupaʻitea is a large village district with four sub-villages on the south-eastern coast of Savaiʻi, the biggest island of Samoa. In the country's modern political divisions it is also an itumalo, one of eleven politic…

Vaisigano occupies the western tip of Savaiʻi, with Asau as its capital; in Samoan the area is also called ʻItu Asau, the Asau district. Its best-known son came from the village of Vaisala: the chief Vaʻai Kolone, who s…

Gagaʻifomauga stretches along the northern side of Savaiʻi and takes in the village communities of Aopo, Lefagaoaliʻi, Manase, Safune, Safotu, Samauga and Sasina; Aopo was traditionally the main village of the district,…

Gagaʻemauga lies on the central northern side of Savaiʻi, the largest island of Samoa, where the land rises from the reef and black-sand shore to the forested volcanic uplands inland. The district is best known for the …

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. The distric…

According to legend, Tagaloa-a-lagi (Samoan's supreme god), entered Upolu, Savaiʻi and Tonga from Manuʻa island on the eastern tip of the Samoan archipelago. The political divisions of Upolu are said to be traced to his…

Aʻana is a district of Samoa. It is on the western third of Upolu island, with a small exclave (Satuimalufilufi village) surrounded by Aiga-i-le-Tai. It has an area of 193 km2 and a population (2016 Census) of 23,265. T…

=== Malie & the Malietoa === The paramount matai title of Tuamasaga is the Malietoa title. Led by Auimatagi, Sa Malietoa and the nine senior orators of Malie are responsible for the election of the Malietoa titleholder …

Tuamāsaga is a district of Samoa, with a population (2016 census) of 95,907. This makes it the most populous district in Samoa. The geographic area of Tuamasaga covers the central part of Upolu island, and includes the …

Vaʻa-o-Fonoti is a district on the north east coast of Upolu Island in Samoa, with a population (2016 Census) of 1,621, making it the least populated district in the country and the Second smallest one by area after Aig…

According to one legend, Tagaloa-a-lagi (the Samoan supreme god), entered Upolu, Savai'i and Tonga from Manu'a island on the eastern tip of the Samoan archipelago. The political divisions of Upolu are said to be traced …

Ātua is an ancient political district of Samoa, consisting of most of the eastern section of Upolu and the island Tutuila. Within Samoa's traditional polity, Ātua is ruled by the Tui Ātua together with the group of six …